One of the most complex topics in contemporary international relations is the status of the self-governing entity of Taiwan and its government in Taipei. In this November 6, 2025 talk, Pasha Hsieh, a law professor at Singapore Management University, explains how states that lack formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan nonetheless enter into trade and bilateral investment agreements with it, blurring the line between recognition and non-recognition.
On April 2, 2025, US President Trump declared “Liberation Day” and launched a tariff war against the entire world, including key American trade partners in East Asia. In this April 8, 2026 talk, Henry Gao, law professor at Singapore Management University and a trade expert, argues that the Liberation Day tariffs were simply leverage to force other countries to halt disguised transshipment of Chinese goods to the United States. Going forward, Professor Gao calls for rethinking some fundamental rules of the current global trade system, such as most-favored nation status.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development identifies ensuring equal access to justice for all as one of its specific goals, aligning with the rights proclaimed in multiple international human rights treaties. Taking “equal access to justice” as an entry point, Yizhi Huang’s article compares the 2030 Agenda and international human rights treaties across three dimensions: background, content framework, and monitoring mechanisms. It argues that it is necessary to integrate the human rights mechanisms with the 2030 Agenda and coordinate both approaches in order to enhance judicial protection for vulnerable groups and achieve judicial justice for all.
May 10– May 16
Chinese President Xi Jinping warns US President Donald Trump that mishandling disagreements over Taiwan could push the two countries toward conflict; China's legislature considers the first comprehensive revision of the Agriculture Law since 2002; Japanese legislators begin discussing a draft amendment to the constitution that would allow the Cabinet to extend Diet members’ terms during national emergencies; a South Korean appeals court increases the prison term given to former President Yoon Suk Yeol's interior minister for aiding him in declaring martial law in 2024; Taiwan's Legislative Yuan prepares to vote next week on a motion to impeach President Lai Ching-te that is expected to fail.
May 03– May 09
A Chinese military court sentences two former defense ministers to death with reprieve for corruption; Hong Kong announces plans to require physical door handles on new vehicles from 2027; Japan agrees to negotiate the transfer of demobilized Japanese warships to the Philippines as both countries step up their security arrangements; North Korea revises its constitution to remove longstanding references to reunification with South Korea; South Korea's National Assembly tries but fails to approve a constitutional amendment transferring martial law authority from the president to the legislature; after months of wrangling, Taiwan's opposition-controlled legislature approves a special defense budget that is 40 percent smaller than President Lai Ching-te requested.
April 26– May 02
Chinese market regulators order Meta to unwind its $2 billion-plus acquisition of agentic AI startup Manus despite Manus’ reincorporation in Singapore; Hong Kong presses criminal charges against two men accused of posting social media calls to boycott last year’s Legislative Council elections; Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi convenes an expert panel to review Japan's defense policies and spending levels; former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife, Kim Keon Hee, both receive longer prison terms from an appellate court; a Taiwan court sentences a former TSMC engineer to ten years in prison for passing chip secrets to an equipment supplier.
Program on International Law & Relations in Asia
