A Brave New World in Kashmir?

Last month, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened a new chapter in the fraught history of the state of Jammu and Kashmir by erasing its semi-autonomous status. Though India has rolled back some of its initial restrictions, the region remains in a perilous position.

What do India’s actions mean for Jammu and Kashmir and its people? And what does Modi hope to accomplish?

In an essay for Asia Blog, Anubhav Gupta, associate director for the Asia Society Policy Institute, explores the political reasoning behind Modi’s actions, and what the impact might be for the troubled region.

Read

POLICY

The U.S.-China Trade Dispute: Where Things Stand

On Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest round of tariffs on Chinese imports took effect. The 15 percent import penalties cover more than $100 billion in electronics, footwear and more, with China, in turn, levying a 5 percent tax on a range of products including agricultural goods and crude oil. As the tit-for-tat trade war continues, American companies have scrambled to move their supply chain and cushion customers from price hikes at their own costs. Markets, meanwhile, have repeatedly plummeted in recent weeks.

With negotiations seemingly stalled, it is unclear what the next steps could be.

Speaking to Politico, Asia Society Policy Institute Vice President Wendy Cutler said it is becoming harder to imagine an agreement being broached.

“I think the president’s actions and words are making it increasingly difficult for a deal to come together,” said Cutler, who is a former senior U.S. trade negotiator. “He’s undermining the credibility of his negotiators.”

In The New York Times, Cutler said it appears there are “competing objectives in the administration.”

“I think that has caused China to be uncertain about where this is all headed,” she added.

On Thursday morning in New York, Cutler will give a briefing on the U.S.-China trade dispute. The conversation will also be available to watch for free via live webcast. To buy tickets, or learn more about the free webcast, click here.

Explore

CHINAFILE

Thwarted at Home, Can China’s Feminists Rebuild a Movement Abroad?

Less than a decade ago, a vibrant, nimble campaign to fight gender discrimination and sexual violence was crackling to life in China. Today, it’s gone nearly silent. After a brutal crackdown by police on women’s rights activists and NGOs, campaigners find it almost impossible to make their voices heard in China.

A number of them have moved abroad, building a small expatriate community of sympathizers and activists. But with rising repression, the question remains whether they can push for true change back home. Journalist Shen Lu explores the phenomenon in a piece for ChinaFile.

Read

UPCOMING EVENTS

On September 5, Asia Society New York will host a conversation with ASPI Vice President Wendy Cutler exploring where things stand on the U.S.-China trade dispute. Cutler is one of the world’s most experienced and respected trade negotiators and she will discuss the current state of play in the U.S.-China trade negotiations, and compare it with other U.S. trade priorities. The program will also be available via live webcast. More info here.

Also on September 5, Asia Society Texas will host a talk with Seyed Hossein Mousavian, Iran's former ambassador to Germany and former official Iranian spokesman for nuclear negotiations, who will give insight into Iran’s perspective on the U.S. and rising tensions in the Middle East. Click here to learn more.

On September 9, Chinese artist Xiaoze Xie will speak with Asia Society Museum Senior Curator Michelle Yun at the opening of his newest exhibition, which traces the history of banned books in China, providing a means to chart changes in cultural standards and their influence on shaping modern Chinese society. The talk is free and only open for members. More info about the talk here. And to learn how to become an Asia Society member, click here.

JOIN & SUPPORT

Asia Society relies on the generosity of its friends and members to support its mission of strengthening relationships and promoting understanding among the people, leaders, and institutions of Asia and the United States.