South Korea is carrying out one of the most far-reaching reforms of its modern legal history. It is abolishing the powerful 78-year-old Prosecutors’ Office and separating the roles of investigator and prosecutor in an effort to curb abuses and restore public trust. Jaewoong Yoon analyzes why the shakeup is deemed necessary, why it has been so long in coming, and the challenges ahead.
The standoff between the two governments on either side of the Taiwan Strait has now lasted for 76 years. Elizabeth Chien-Hale, a daughter of Taiwan, writes that this is longer than her own lifetime and asks: why isn’t anyone working toward a peace agreement?
The US retreat from its longstanding role as a champion of free trade has created new vulnerabilities for its longtime partners. But for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN, there may be silver linings. Tan Hsien-Li writes that ASEAN is doubling down on its commitment to a rules-based international order, pursuing new trade agreements and taking steps to fulfill its vision of a resilient single market and production base.
December 28 - January 3
China holds a new round of military exercises around Taiwan; Japan’s government moves forward with plans for legislation to prevent information theft by foreign entities; a South Korean special counsel accuses the former first lady of accepting bribes and meddling in state affairs; the South Korean government begins relaxing a longstanding ban on reading North Korea’s official news; Taiwan’s opposition-controlled legislature blocks consideration of President Lai Ching-te’s proposed special defense budget.
December 21 - December 27
China’s legislature revises the Foreign Trade Law to strengthen IP protection and revises the Civil Aviation Law to begin formally regulating drones; Japan’s Cabinet approves a record defense budget plan as tensions with China rise; South Korea’s National Assembly approves legislation requiring two Seoul courts to create specialized panels to handle future cases involving rebellion, treason, and foreign subversion; Taiwan’s opposition-controlled Legislative Yuan approves a motion to initiate impeachment proceedings against President Lai Ching-te as its constitutional crisis deepens.
Program on International Law & Relations in Asia
