Asia Unscripted

This episode of US-Asia Institute's podcast, Asia Unscripted, features Mr. Michael Kugelman, the director of the Wilson Center's South Asia Institute. He is also a columnist for the Foreign Policy Magazine. His primary research projects include geopolitics in South Asia, U.S.-India technology cooperation, and the role of the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan. Some of Mr. Kugelman's longer publications include Pakistan's Interminable Energy Crisis: Is There Any Way Out? (Wilson Center, 2015), Pakistan's Runaway Urbanization: What Can Be Done? (Wilson Center, 2014), and India's Contemporary Security Challenges (Wilson Center, 2013). Kugelman has written and spoken for several news and media outlets including the New York Times, Al Jazeera, BBC, CNN and more. He received his M.A. in law and diplomacy from the Fletcher School at Tufts University and his B.A. from American University's School of International Service.Mr. Kugelman speaks to USAI Program and Communications Assistant, Priyasha Chakravarti, about Bhutan's sustainable development efforts, including concepts such as Gross National Happiness, sustainable development fee, and economic diversification. Support the Show.

This episode of US-Asia Institute's podcast, Asia Unscripted, features Dr. Courtney Work, who is an Associate Professor at National Chengchi Univeristy. Before joining National Chengchi University, Dr. Work completed her PhD at Cornell University, in Ithaca, NY in 2014, after which she spent five years on a research post-doc with the Institute for Social Studies, The Hague, and the Regional Center for Sustainable Development (RCSD) at Chiang Mai University. She researched the intersections of climate change policies and forest-based livelihoods in Cambodia and Myanmar.Dr. Work speaks to USAI Program Assistant Tarang about Cambodia's past and future initiatives to mitigate climate change. Support the Show.

This episode of US-Asia Institute's podcast, Asia Unscripted, features Ambassador Scot Marciel, Ambassador Scot Marciel is the Oksenberg-Rohlen Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies. From 2010 to 2013, Ambassador Marciel served as U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia and served as the first U.S. Ambassador for ASEAN Affairs and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for  Southeast Asia from 2007 to 2010. Ambassador Marciel is a retired diplomat who has also served as U.S. Ambassador to Myanmar from March 2016 through May 2020. With over 35 years of experience in Asia, Ambassador Marciel is a career diplomat who has also served at U.S. missions in Turkey, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Brazil and the Philippines. Ambassador Marciel speaks to USAI Program Assistant Tarang about Thailand's foreign policy habits and its history with the United States. Support the show

This episode of US-Asia Institute's podcast, Asia Unscripted, features Dr. Alka Jauhari, who is a Practitioner In Residence at the Department of Human Sciences of the University of New Haven. Dr. Jauhari has obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at Isabella Thoburn College, a Masters Degree in Political Science at Lucknow University, and a Ph.D. in Political Science from Lucknow University as well. Dr. Jauhari's research includes the South Asian Region, primarily highlighting the exploration of growth and development issues in India, which she has compared with those in the African Countries. Dr. Jauhari's research also focuses on analyzing political, economic, and social issues within the African Continent.  *Correction: Dr. Jauhari referred to the "British Crown," not the British Queen when answering Question 2. Dr. Jauhari speaks to USAI Program Assistant Tarang about current India and Pakistan relations along with history surrounding the partition. Click on the link in our bio to listen to the latest episode!Support the show

This episode of US-Asia Institute's podcast, Asia Unscripted, features Nick Millward, who is the U.S. Co-Director of Friends of Mongolia. Nick Millward earned a bachelor's in international studies at Virginia Military Institute. Upon graduating, he served as an Infantry Officer in the US Marine Corps for 7 years, where he was eventually stationed in Japan, enabling him to travel to Mongolia. He left the military in 2021 and is pursuing a Masters of Peace and Conflict Studies as a Rotary Peace Fellow at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. Nick is developing advanced skills in conflict resolution with a background in Central and East Asian Studies; he has experience collaborating with multiple NGO's and institutions and is eager to develop a robust network of volunteers and practitioners who strengthen community relations.Nick speaks to USAI Program Assistant Tarang about the work that Friends of Mongolia does within the country to foster community-building. Support the show

This episode of US-Asia Institute's podcast, Asia Unscripted, features the Charge d'Affaires of the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia, The Honorable Sade Bimantara. He is a career diplomat and graduate of Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, where he obtained his Bachelor and Masters in his focuses of interests: economics, finance, and communications. Mr. Bimantara speaks to USAI Program Assistant Tarang about the 75th anniversary of Indonesia-US relations and how they have changed over the decades. Support the show

This episode features Dr. David Dollar, who is a senior fellow in the John L. Thornton China Center at the Brookings Institution and host of the Brookings trade podcast, Dollar&Sense. He is a leading expert on China's economy and U.S.-China economic relations. From 2009 to 2013, Dollar was the U.S. Treasury's economic and financial emissary to China, based in Beijing, facilitating the macroeconomic and financial policy dialogue between the United States and China. Prior to joining Treasury, Dollar worked 20 years for the World Bank, serving as country director for China and Mongolia, based in Beijing (2004-2009). He has a doctorate in economics from New York University and a bachelor's in Chinese history and language from Dartmouth College.David speaks to Amelie about the bilateral partnership between China's Belt and Road Initiative and the respective South East Asian nations, as well as the controversial designation of the infrastructure project as China's tool for “debt trap diplomacy.” Support the show

This episode features James Borton and Rodger Baker, the co-authors of the South China Sea Maritime Survey, a survey that aims to “underscore the urgency to examine the benefits and prospects of science-led initiatives in light of the unfolding climate and ecological changes occurring in the region (Source: RANE Marcom blog).”James Borton is a Senior Fellow at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) Foreign Policy Institute. He is also an independent environmental policy writer and former foreign correspondent for The Washington Times, based in Hong Kong. He contributes regularly to Asia Sentinel, Asia Times, East Asia Forum, Geopolitical Monitor, Nikkei Asian Review, The South China Morning Post, Project Syndicate, and World Politics Review. He was a past National Endowment Humanities Fellow at Yale University. He has been a non-resident fellow at the Stimson Center and Tufts University Science Diplomacy Center and has participated in numerous South China Sea conferences. He also co-founded the Mekong Environment Forum in Can Tho, Vietnam. His latest book, Dispatches from the South China Sea: Navigating to Common Ground, was published in 2021. He has a B.A. and an M.A. with honors in American Studies from the University of Maryland.Rodger Baker is the executive director of the Stratfor Center for Applied Geopolitics at RANE, a global center of excellence for geopolitical intelligence and analysis. Baker is one of the world's leading experts on North Korea and has dedicated extended periods of time living and working in and around the Korean Peninsula. His core emphasis is the multidisciplinary approach to geopolitics and the evolution of international relations to develop mid-and long-term forecasts to assist companies, governments, and other globally engaged organizations make informed decisions. Baker holds a master's degree in military history from Norwich University, the oldest private military university in the United States. He has studied and worked in South Korea and graduated with honors from Southampton College, Long Island University. Mr. Borton and Mr. Baker speak to Amelie about the underlying environmental factors involved in the South China Sea, and the necessity for science diplomacy and cooperation in the contested area.Support the show

This episode features Dr. Dini Sejko, a Lecturer at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Business School, and a research affiliate at The Fletcher Network for Sovereign Wealth and Global Capital, Tufts University. Dr Sejko's research focuses on international economic law and the governance of state-owned enterprises and sovereign wealth funds (or SWFs). For his research on the impact of UN sanctions on the governance of the Libyan SWF, Dr Sejko received the Society of International Economic Law PEPA Best Paper Award 2018. Dr. Sejko has recently published in the Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law an article on “Sovereign Investors as ICSID Claimants: Lessons from the Drafting Documents and the Case Law.” His other publications can be found online on his SSRN profile. Dr. Sejko has obtained a Combined Bachelor and Master of Science in Law from Bocconi University, a Master of Laws in International Economic Law and a PhD in Laws from the Chinese University of Hong Kong.Dr. Sejko speaks to Amelie about the the sovereign wealth fund landscape in South East Asia, as well as the challenges and risks associated with the funds' management and governance. Support the show

This episode features Mark Manantan, the Director of Cybersecurity and Critical Technologies at the Pacific Forum. At the Forum, Mr. Manantan currently leads the Cyber ASEAN capacity-building initiative, and the US Cyber, Technology, and Security partnerships with Japan, Australia, Taiwan, and South Korea. Mr. Manantan is also a non-resident fellow at the Center for Southeast Asian Studies, National Chengchi University, Taiwan, and formerly a research consultant at the Asia Society Policy Institute, Washington, DC. He has held visiting fellowships at the Japan Foundation, the Center for Rule-Making Strategies at Tama University in Tokyo, Japan, and the East-West Center, Washington, DC. Prior to that, he was a media, public relations, and advertising executive for Procter & Gamble, Wells Fargo, Aboitiz Equity Ventures, and UNICEF.Mr. Manantan speaks to Amelie about the tech landscape in South East Asia, delving into the rise of AI businesses and policies within the region, as well as the role of cybersecurity in geopolitical conflicts, such as the South China Sea.  Graphic by Sam Tran. Support the show

This episode features Justin Hall, a partner at Golden Gate Ventures, a venture capital firm headquartered in Singapore that invests in early stage tech startups across various South East Asian countries (with offices in Indonesia and Vietnam). Hall's investment portfolio is wide-ranging, including web-based marketplace Carousell, and most recently, a generative AI company called ‘Flyx.AI'. Hall holds an MA in Public Policy at the National University of Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy and a BA at Trinity College, Dublin, with a degree in history and political science.Justin speaks to Amelie about the venture capital landscape in South East Asia, delving into Golden Gate Ventures' investment portfolio across the region, as well as the geopolitical implications of the venture capital space within the region.Graphic by Sam Tran.Support the show

This episode features Ramesh Subramaniam, Director General of the Southeast Asia Department for the Asian Development Bank (or ADB), a regional development bank that works to promote social and economic development in Asia. Under his department, he has managed over $24 billion in projects under implementation. In addition, he currently holds positions as a member of various Global Agendas/Future Councils of the World Economic Forum (WEF) since 2012, and is a co-chair of the ASEAN Hub of WEF's Sustainable Development Investment Partnership. He started his career in 1991 in teaching and research, with a teaching position at McMaster University, Canada, where he also got a Ph.D, before becoming a Research Fellow on Industry at University of St. Andrews in United Kingdom and a Rockefeller Fellow at Yale University Economic Growth Center.Mr. Subramaniam speaks to Amelie about ADB's development initiatives within ASEAN, namely ADB's commitment toward climate financing, and their new operational plan toward poverty reduction and economic growth, entitled ‘Strategy 2030'.Graphic by Sam Tran. Support the show

This episode features Ambassador Ted Osius, President and CEO of the US-ASEAN Business Council and former US Ambassador to Vietnam. Ambassador Osius speaks to Laura about opportunities and challenges for US companies in Vietnam with respect to Vietnam's rapid economic growth and clean energy transition, as well as Mekong and environmental issues in the country.Support the show

This episode features Gregory Poling, Director of the Southeast Asia Program and Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He is a leading expert on the South China Sea disputes and conducts research on U.S. alliances and partnerships, democratization and governance in Southeast Asia, and maritime security across the Indo-Pacific. In this episode, Gregory speaks to Laura about the outlook for the Philippines' foreign policy and climate and environmental goals under the Marcos administration. Support the show

This week, Lai and Kelly are joined by James Borton, a veteran journalist and author on Southeast Asia. He has reported widely for outlets such as The Washington Times and The Diplomat, focusing on environmental security issues stretching from the Philippines, Micronesia and to Vietnam, especially on the Mekong River and the South China Sea. Mr. Borton has also organized and participated as a panelist in many South China Sea programs at The East West Center, SAIS, CSIS, Walker Institute, and US-Asia Institute. He has also been a past non-resident fellow at US-Asia Institute, the Stimson Center, and at Tufts University Science Diplomacy Center. He's presently a senior fellow at Johns Hopkins University Foreign Policy Institute. He is also the National Endowment Fellow of the American Civilization Seminar at Yale University. As well as being a faculty associate at the University of South Carolina, Mr. Borton is the author of multiple books on Asia. In this episode, Mr. Borton speaks about regional martime conflict in Southeast Asia as well as his latest book, Dispatches from the South China Sea: Navigating to Common Ground, in which he uses field notes, knowledge of ecological politics and the idea of science diplomacy, to explore ways in which we can build up relationships in the region and solve the environmental damage to the endangered coral reefs of the region.Please be reminded that the US-Asia Institute is a nonpartisan, non-advocacy organization with no policy agenda. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the US-Asia Institute.Support the show (https://www.usasiainstitute.org/asiaunscripted)Support the show (https://www.usasiainstitute.org/support-usai-ch)

This episode of Candid Career Conversations features David Henry Hwang, who speaks about his experiences in the arts through his career in American theater, film, opera, and playwrighting. Hwang’s stage works includes the plays M. Butterfly, Chinglish, Yellow Face, Kung Fu, Golden Child, The Dance and the Railroad, and FOB, as well as the Broadway musicals Elton John & Tim Rice’s Aida (co-author), Flower Drum Song (2002 revival) and Disney’s Tarzan. Hwang is a Tony Award winner and three-time nominee, a three-time OBIE Award winner, and a three-time Finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. He is also the most-produced living American opera librettist. He discussed how his work telling Asian American stories is relevant to the challenges the community faces in 2021 as well as how a career in the arts has afforded him the opportunity to change hearts and minds to foster collective unity over certain themes presented in his works.Support the show (https://www.usasiainstitute.org/support-usai-ch)

This episode of Candid Career Conversations features Dr. Konrad Ng, who speaks about his experiences in the field of art, culture, and more specific to his academic work, creative media. He is currently the Executive Director of Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture, and Design in Honolulu, Hawaii. Before Shangri La, he was the Director for the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center. He took the time to discuss his experiences advocating for Asian Americans stories through cultural preservation and creative media, his background as the son of a Malaysian immigrant to Canada, and the power of media and storytelling in capturing the lesser known narratives and experiences of minority groups beyond Asian Americans within the United States.Support the show (https://www.usasiainstitute.org/support-usai-ch)

This episode of Candid Career Conversations features Marc Futernick, MD, who speaks about his experiences in the field of medicine and his journey in becoming an Emergency Services Physician. Beyond his work at hospitals in the emergency room, he also discusses his passion for addressing Climate Change, the intersections between Climate Change and medicine, as well as his non-profit work in support of his community in California.Support the show (https://www.usasiainstitute.org/support-usai-ch)

This episode of Candid Career Conversations features Amy Lee Segami, who speaks about her experiences growing up in Hong Kong, studying and becoming an engineer in the United States, and the process of becoming a world renowned artist and respected businesswoman out of her engineering background.Support the show (https://www.usasiainstitute.org/support-usai-ch)

This opening episode of Candid Career Conversations serves as a means for our listeners to understand the purpose, future content, and anticipated schedule of this brand new podcast series hosted by the US-Asia Institute. This series will examine the experiences of prominent Americans from various backgrounds to assist youth and professionals in understanding the challenges and potential opportunities of the professional world.Support the show (https://www.usasiainstitute.org/support-usai-ch)

This week, Vivien and Isabelle are joined by Tyler Rasch, a TV Personality and Celebrity in South Korea who aims to connect Korean media to a global audience. He has appeared on all major Korean broadcasting networks and received awards for his appearances in popular TV shows. Tyler has also worked as a consultant and advisor, working with governments, international organizations, and startups. Prior to moving to Seoul, Tyler worked for the US and the Korean government. Tyler is a 2009 alumnus of the US-Asia Institute's Internship Program.In this episode, Tyler speaks about his experiences working in South Korea, and shares his insights into the intersections between Korean media, popular culture, and politics. Please be reminded that the US-Asia Institute is a nonpartisan, non-advocacy organization with no policy agenda. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the US-Asia Institute.Support the show (https://www.usasiainstitute.org/support-usai-ch)

This week, Isabelle and Vivien are joined by two guests. Their first guest is Laura Silver, who is a senior researcher at Pew Research Center. She is an expert in international survey research and writes about international public opinion on a variety of topics, including media usage and partisanship in Europe, Chinese public opinion, and global attitudes toward China. Their second guest is Professor Sheena Chestnut Greitens, who is an associate professor at the LBJ School at the University of Texas at Austin. Her work focuses on East Asia, American national security and authoritarian politics and foreign policy. In the episode, Laura and Sheena discuss Pew Research Center's recently published report about the views of Americans towards China. Please be reminded that the US-Asia Institute is a nonpartisan, non-advocacy organization with no policy agenda. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the US-Asia Institute.Support the show (https://www.usasiainstitute.org/support-usai-ch)

This episode of Asia Unscripted features Lauren Tom, an Obie Award-winning actress, known for her roles in movies such as The Joy Luck Club, shows such as Friends, Supernatural, and Andi Mack, as well as the animated series Futurama. On Broadway, Lauren has appeared in A Chorus Line, Hurlyburly and Doonesbury, and has worked with directors such as Peter Sellars and Joanne Akalaitis at the Goodman and Guthrie Theaters, the La Jolla Playhouse, and the Kennedy Center. Her one-woman show, 25 Psychics, premiered at HBO'S U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen and received Dramalogue Awards for Best Performance and Best Direction.In the episode, Lauren speaks with Isabelle and Vivien about her experiences as an Asian American performer and actress working on Broadway and in Hollywood, and she shares her insights about the importance of representation for minority groups in US media. Please be reminded that the US-Asia Institute is a nonpartisan, non-advocacy organization with no policy agenda. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the US-Asia Institute.Support the show (https://www.usasiainstitute.org/support-usai-ch)

This week's episode of Asia Unscripted features Alexander Feldman, who is the Chairman, President & CEO of the US-ASEAN Business Council. Mr. Feldman has extensive experience in both the public and private sectors, holding positions in the Administrations of Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush, the U.S. Department of State, and the U.S. Department of Commerce, and serving as an international media executive for CNBC Asia, MTV Networks Asia and STAR TV. Since 2009, he has led the US-ASEAN Business Council, which is the premier advocacy organization for U.S. corporations operating within the dynamic Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), serving as the leading voice of the U.S. private sector in promoting mutually beneficial trade and investment relationships between the United States and Southeast Asia.In this episode, Mr. Feldman discusses economic recovery in ASEAN, as well as business and investment trends in the region. Please be reminded that the US-Asia Institute is a nonpartisan, non-advocacy organization with no policy agenda. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the US-Asia Institute.Support the show (https://www.usasiainstitute.org/support-usai-ch)

This week, Vivien and Isabelle are joined by Sibarani Sofian, who is the founder and director of URBAN+, a design studio based in Jakarta that won the design competition for Indonesia’s new capital in 2019. Mr. Sofian is an urban designer, planner, and business leader with extensive experience in various urban projects in Asia, especially South East Asia and Indonesia. His work focuses on executing sustainable urban development based on an integrated multi-disciplinary approach. In the episode, Mr. Sofian speaks about Indonesian government's decision to move the country's capital, as well as the considerations that went into URBAN+'s design for the new capital. Please be reminded that the US-Asia Institute is a nonpartisan, non-advocacy organization with no policy agenda. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the US-Asia Institute.Support the show (https://www.usasiainstitute.org/support-usai-ch)

This week's episode of Asia Unscripted features two guests: Tim Ryan and Atley Chock of the Solidarity Center, the largest U.S.-based international worker rights organization partnering directly with workers and their unions. Tim Ryan is the Asia Regional Program Director for Solidarity Center, and previously served in Asia as the Solidarity Center’s Country Program Director for Sri Lanka and Indonesia. Atley Chock is a Senior Program Officer in the Solidarity Center's Asia Department and supports capacity building, training, and other technical assistance programs for trade unions and worker organizations in Southeast Asia.In this episode, Tim and Atley speak about workers' rights in Thailand as well as labor disruptions and challenges caused by COVID-19. Please be reminded that the US-Asia Institute is a nonpartisan, non-advocacy organization with no policy agenda. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the US-Asia Institute. Support the show (https://www.usasiainstitute.org/support-usai-ch)

This week, Isabelle and Vivien are honored to be joined by Chief Economist Yasuyuki Sawada of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Chief Economist Sawada serves as the chief spokesperson for ADB on economic and development trends, and leads the Economic Research and Regional Cooperation Department (ERCD), which produces the flagship knowledge products of the ADB. He is a Professor in the Faculty of Economics at the University of Tokyo, Japan, and his research fields focus on macro- and micro-development economics, microeconometrics, economics of disasters, and field surveys and experiments.In this episode, Chief Economist Sawada speaks about the impact of COVID-19 on Asia's growth prospects, the ADB's response to the pandemic, and the ADB's most recent economic projections for the region, published in the Asian Development Outlook Supplement in June 2020.Support the show (https://www.usasiainstitute.org/support-usai-ch)

On this episode of Asia Unscripted, we highlight clips from the “Hong Kong Protests and COVID-19” Webinar hosted by the US-Asia Institute on July 29th. The speakers featured in the webinar were Professor Albert Chen, Madam Emily Lau, and the Honorable Bernard Chan. Professor Chen is the Cheng Chan Lan Yue Professor in Constitutional Law at the University of Hong Kong, Madam Lau is a former member of the Democratic Party in the Hong Kong Legislative Council, and Mr Chan is the Convenor of the Non-official Members of the Hong Kong Executive Council. The event was moderated by Alejandro Reyes, the Asia Global Institute’s Director of Knowledge Dissemination at the University of Hong Kong, and a former guest on the Asia Unscripted podcast. For access to the full webinar audio recording, you can visit our website: https://www.usasiainstitute.org/audio-videos. Please be reminded that the US-Asia Institute is a nonpartisan, non-advocacy organization with no policy agenda. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the US-Asia Institute.Support the show (https://www.usasiainstitute.org/support-usai-ch)

This episode of Asia Unscripted is a compilation of highlights from the seventh session of the China 101 webinar series, hosted by the US-Asia Institute. This China 101 session, entitled “US-China Relations: Rebuilding Trust” was held on July 20th. The speakers featured in the webinar were Susan Thornton and Dr. Shao Yuqun. Susan Thornton is a Visiting Lecturer in Law at Yale Law School, Senior Fellow at the Paul Tsai China Center and the former acting Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs at the Department of State, and Dr. Shao is the Director of Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau Studies at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, and Senior Member at the Center for American Studies. The event was moderated by Kent Lucken, Chairman and Trustee Emeritus of the US-Asia Institute.Please be reminded that the US-Asia Institute is a nonpartisan, non-advocacy organization with no policy agenda. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the US-Asia Institute.Support the show (https://www.usasiainstitute.org/support-usai-ch)

This week, Isabelle and Vivien are joined by Professor Tsung-Mei Cheng, who is a Health Policy Research Analyst at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs. She is cofounder of the Princeton Conference, an annual national conference on health policy that brings together the U.S. Congress, government, and the research community on issues affecting health care and health policy in the United States. Professor Cheng’s current research focuses on cross-national comparisons of health systems in East Asia, and she has served as an adviser to the Strategic Review Board of the Science and Technology Advisory Group (STAG), which advises the Office of the Premier of Taiwan on policies relating to the development of science and technology including health care in Taiwan.In the episode, Professor Cheng speaks about Taiwan's single-payer healthcare system and how the country has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. Please be reminded that the US-Asia Institute is a nonpartisan, non-advocacy organization with no policy agenda. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the US-Asia Institute. Support the show (https://www.usasiainstitute.org/support-usai-ch)

The guest on this episode of Asia Unscripted is Jisoo Kim, the Director of the Institute for Korean Studies and the Korea Foundation Associate Professor of History, International Affairs, and East Asian Languages and Literatures at George Washington University. Professor Kim is a specialist in gender and legal history of early modern Korea. Her first book, The Emotions of Justice: Gender, Status, and Legal Performance in Chosŏn Korea, received the 2017 James B. Palais Book Prize and traces the discourse of emotions in the realm of law and examines how the narrative of wŏn (冤) or the sense of being wronged played a crucial role in seeking and performing justice. In the episode, Professor Kim speaks to Vivien about the debates about the adultery law in Korea, as well as current gender politics in South Korea, including the recent "Nth Room" sex crime scandal. Episode Artwork from Getty ImagesSupport the show (https://www.usasiainstitute.org/support-usai-ch)

This episode of Asia Unscripted is a compilation of highlights from the ASEAN Cooperation in the Face of COVID-19 webinar hosted by the US-Asia Institute on June 25. This event was the fourth session of the ASEAN 101 Congressional Briefing Series and focused on the response to COVID-19 by the countries of ASEAN. The two speakers featured in the webinar were His Excellency Ashok Kumar Mirpuri, Ambassador of Singapore to the United States and Ambassador Stapleton Roy, Founding Director Emeritus and Distinguished Scholar, Kissinger Institute on China and the United States, Wilson Center. The event was moderated by Ben Wu, Vice Chairman of US-Asia Institute's Board of Trustees.Support the show (https://www.usasiainstitute.org/support-usai-ch)

In this episode, Isabelle and Vivien speak with China Expert, Media Executive, & US-Asia Institute Trustee, Chris Fenton, who discusses his upcoming book and shares thoughts from his China-focused speaking tour. Mr. Fenton is the CEO of Media Capital Technologies and has previously served as the President of DMG Entertainment and GM of DMG North America for 17 years, where he produced or supervised twenty-one films, including Iron Man 3 and Looper. He is often featured as an expert on China and Hollywood in publications including Wall Street Journal, Politico, Fast Company, Business Week, and China Daily, and he also regularly appears on Bloomberg, CCTV, and CNBC. His upcoming book will be released on July 28, 2020. Image credit: "Feeding the Dragon," https://feedingthedragonbook.com/Support the show (https://www.usasiainstitute.org/support-usai-ch)

This episode features Alfred Nakatsuma, former Director with the United States Agency for International Development. Mr. Nakatsuma has served USAID missions in Bolivia, Guatemala, Indonesia, Philippines, the Regional Asia mission in Bangkok, and in Washington DC. He was the former Director of the USAID’s Asia Regional Environment Office, overseeing foreign assistance for environmental activities in 24 countries. He most recently served as a USAID Development Diplomat in Residence based at California State University Long Beach. In the following clips, Mr. Nakatsuma speaks to Isabelle and Vivien about the current state and future of environmental work, particularly in the Asian context.Support the show (https://www.usasiainstitute.org/support-usai-ch)

In this episode, Isabelle and Vivien speak with Professor Justin Stern, Assistant Professor of Urban Studies at Yale-NUS College, about the socio-spatial implications of the Business Process Outsourcing industry in the Philippines. Prior to joining Yale-NUS College, Professor Stern was a Harold A. Pollman Postdoctoral Fellow in Real Estate and Urban Development at Harvard University Graduate School of Design. His research focuses on the interplay of economic development, technological disruption, and urban design in the rapidly urbanizing regions of the Global South, with a particular geographic focus on the Philippines. The phrase "End of the Line" in the episode title comes from Professor Stern's current work on the BPO industry in the Philippines. Support the show (https://www.usasiainstitute.org/support-usai-ch)

This episode of Asia Unscripted is a compilation of highlights from the COVID-19 Lessons Learned Webinar hosted by the US-Asia Institute. The event, held on May 13, focused on the approaches of three countries -- Singapore, South Korea, and Vietnam -- in their fight against the coronavirus. The three health experts featured in the webinar were Professor Teo Yik Ying, Dean of the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health at the National University of Singapore, Professor Lee Hoon Sang, Visiting Professor at the Yonsei School of Public Health, and Professor Luong Ngoc Khue, Director of the Department of Medical Examinations and Treatment at the Health Ministry of Vietnam. Support the show (https://www.usasiainstitute.org/support-usai-ch)

In this episode, Vivien and Isabelle have the pleasure of speaking to Dr. Meredith Weiss, Professor and chair of Political Science at State University of New York – Albany. Professor Weiss's research is in the field of comparative politics, focusing on Southeast Asia, and her current projects include research on democratic representation and political elites in Southeast Asia, and a monograph on Malaysian sociopolitical development. Professor Weiss is a former chair of the Southeast Asia Council of the Association for Asian Studies and currently holds positions at multiple political science associations. She has given briefings for the US Trade Representative and State Department and has served as a State Department lecturer in Malaysia.Support the show (https://www.usasiainstitute.org/support-usai-ch)

In the first episode of the second season of Asia Unscripted, Vivien and Isabelle speak to Dr. Ramon Pacheco Pardo, Associate Professor in International Relations at King’s College London and the KF-VUB Korea Chair at the Institute for European Studies of Vrije Universiteit Brussel (IES-VUB). Dr. Pacheco Pardo has held visiting positions at Korea University, the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, and Melbourne University, and his publications include the book North Korea-US Relations from Kim Jong Il to Kim Jong Un, published in 2019. He has participated in various international relations dialogues and is also a frequent media commentator on Northeast Asian affairs and EU-East Asia relations. In this episode, Dr. Pacheco Pardo discusses South Korea's foreign policy and its position amidst changing geopolitical dynamics.Support the show (https://www.usasiainstitute.org/support-usai-ch)

Welcome to Season 2 of Asia Unscripted! In this introductory episode, Isabelle and Vivien chat with each other about their experiences hosting the podcast last season, as well as their goals and perspectives on the upcoming season. Support the show (https://www.usasiainstitute.org/support-usai-ch)

This week's episode of Asia Unscripted features Alejandro T. Reyes, Director of Knowledge Dissemination and a visiting associate professor at Asia Global Institute. Prior to joining the institute, he was for two years senior policy adviser to the Assistant Deputy Minister for Asia Pacific and Convenor of the Asia Pacific Policy Hub at Global Affairs Canada, the Canadian foreign ministry. He has also served as a senior policy adviser to the Canadian Foreign Minister and was a Hong Kong-based independent consultant from 2001 to 2017. In the following clips, Mr. Reyes speaks about governance and politics in Hong Kong and the 2019 Hong Kong protests.Support the show (https://www.usasiainstitute.org/support-usai-ch)

In this week's episode, Isabelle and Vivien are honored to have with them Kishore Mahbubani, a Distinguished Fellow at the Asia Research Institute of the National University of Singapore, or NUS. Professor Mahbubani was with the Singapore Foreign Service for 33 years, with postings in Cambodia, Malaysia, Washington DC, and New York, where he twice was Singapore’s Ambassador to the UN and served as President of the UN Security Council in January 2001 and May 2002. He joined academia in 2004, when he was appointed the Founding Dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at NUS. In the following clips, Professor Mahbubani speaks about his works on the rise of Asia, the logic of One World, and the future of Singapore. Support the show (https://www.usasiainstitute.org/support-usai-ch)

This episode of Asia Unscripted features Mr. Don Lam, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of VinaCapital, which is one of the leading fund managers in Vietnam. Before founding VinaCapital, Mr. Lam was a Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers Vietnam, where he led the Corporate Finance and Management Consulting practices throughout the Indochina region, which includes Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. With more than 12 years of experience in Vietnam, Mr. Lam is an authority on investments, mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructuring, and privatisations. He is a frequent speaker at international investment seminars and was featured as Vietnam’s “Mr. Wall Street” in Fortune magazine. In this episode, Mr. Lam discusses the growth of Vietnam's economy and the rise of Vietnam as a leader in Asia.Support the show (https://www.usasiainstitute.org/support-usai-ch)

In this episode, Isabelle and Vivien speak to Ernie Bower, one of the world’s leading experts on the Asia-Pacific. Ernie is the founder and CEO of BowerGroupAsia, and founder and chairman of AkarAsia, Inc. In addition to founding BowerGroupAsia, Ernie created the Southeast Asia Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and helped to create the US-ASEAN Business Council, serving as President of the Council for a decade. In these clips, Ernie discusses business, investment, and economic growth in Southeast Asia.Support the show (https://www.usasiainstitute.org/support-usai-ch)

This episode of Asia Unscripted features Dr. Michael Green, Senior Vice President for the Asia and Japan Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and host of the CSIS podcast Asia Chessboard. Dr. Green is also the director of Asian Studies at the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. From 2001 through 2005, Dr. Green served on the National Security Council in director positions for Asia, and has also held positions at the Council on Foreign Relations, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, and the Office of the Secretary of Defense. In the following clips, Dr. Green speaks about Japan’s security and defense policies, as well as Japan’s relations with the United States and South Korea. To learn more about security and strategy in Asia, check out Dr. Green’s Asia Chessboard podcast at https://www.csis.org/podcasts/asia-chessboardSupport the show (https://www.usasiainstitute.org/support-usai-ch)

We are honored to have with us in the episode Ambassador Aung Lynn, the current Ambassador from Myanmar to the United States. Prior to his appointment as Ambassador in 2016, Ambassador Aung Lynn held leadership positions in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Myanmar’s ASEAN Affairs Department, the Myanmar consul in Hong Kong, the Department of Protocol, the Permanent Mission of Myanmar to the United Nations, and at the Myanmar Embassy in South Africa. In the following clips, Ambassador Aung Lynn speaks to Isabelle and Vivien about nation-building and current issues in Myanmar. Support the show (https://www.usasiainstitute.org/support-usai-ch)

In this week's episode of Asia Unscripted, Vivien and Isabelle speak with Craig Allen, President of the US-China Business Council and the former Ambassador of the US to Brunei Darussalam. Prior to his time in Brunei, Craig had a long, distinguished career in US public service, notably working for the US Department of Commerce in Taiwan, Beijing, Tokyo, and Johannesburg. Craig was sworn in as the United States Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam on December 19, 2014, and he served there until July 2018, when he transitioned to President of the US-China Business Council. In the following clips, Craig speaks about the economic prosperity and political stability that he observed during his time in Brunei. Support the show (https://www.usasiainstitute.org/support-usai-ch)

In this week’s episode of Asia Unscripted, Isabelle and Vivien hear from Courtney Weatherby, research analyst with the Stimson Center’s Southeast Asia and Energy, Water, & Sustainability programs. Her research focuses on sustainable infrastructure and energy development challenges in Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific, particularly food-water-energy nexus issues in the Greater Mekong Subregion. In these clips, Courtney discusses sustainability and energy initiatives in Cambodia and the Greater Mekong Subregion.Support the show (https://www.usasiainstitute.org/support-usai-ch)

In this week’s episode of Asia Unscripted, Isabelle and Vivien hear from by Dr. Alicia Campi, current Vice President and President Emeritus of The Mongolia Society. Dr. Campi is a China and Mongolian specialist and was a US State Department Foreign Service Officer for 14 years, serving in Asian posts in Singapore, Taiwan, Japan and Mongolia. Since 2013, she has also been a Research Fellow at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. In these clips, Dr. Campi gives a comprehensive perspective on the democratization of Mongolia following the Cold War, geopolitics in Northeast Asia, as well as US-Mongolia relations. Support the show (https://www.usasiainstitute.org/support-usai-ch)

In this episode of Asia Unscripted, Vivien and Isabelle hear from David Dollar, senior fellow in the John L. Thornton China Center at the Brookings Institution and host of the Brookings trade podcast, Dollar&Sense. David is a leading expert on China's economy and U.S.-China economic relations. From 2009 to 2013, he was the US Treasury’s economic and financial emissary to China, based in Beijing, facilitating the macroeconomic and financial policy dialogue between the United States and China. Prior to joining Treasury, David worked 20 years for the World Bank, serving as country director for China and Mongolia based in Beijing in his last five years. In the following clips, David discusses the Chinese economy and the ongoing US-China trade conflict. Support the show (https://www.usasiainstitute.org/support-usai-ch)

In this episode, Isabelle and Vivien hear from John Zanni, Chief Executive Officer at Acronis SCS, an independent, American company dedicated to providing secure backup, disaster recovery and cyber protection for the US public sector. Acronis SCS was formed by the spinoff of Acronis Inc.’s US public sector business, serving the federal government, federal systems integrators, state & local governments, education, and non-profit organizations. In these clips, John speaks about cyber capacity building in ASEAN, specifically discussing ASEAN’s need for cyber protection and Singapore’s leadership in cyber skills.Support the show (https://www.usasiainstitute.org/support-usai-ch)

This episode features Gregory Poling, Director of the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, or AMTI, at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. AMTI is an interactive, regularly-updated source for information, analysis, and policy exchange on maritime security issues in Asia. It aims to promote transparency in the Indo-Pacific to dissuade assertive behavior and conflict and generate opportunities for cooperation and confidence building. In this episode, Gregory speaks to Isabelle and Vivien about the South China Sea and US-Philippine relations.Support the show (https://www.usasiainstitute.org/support-usai-ch)