Asia-Pacific Research Forum

The Asia-Pacific Research Forum is an informal community of interest supported by the RAND Center for Asia Pacific Policy and Defense and Political Sciences Department to give Asia-Pacific scholars at RAND a platform to share resources, information, and ideas, as well as to create a channel for external stakeholders and thought leaders interested in Asia-Pacific issues to access relevant RAND research, researchers, and events.

Recent Publications and Events

Commentary
Three Principles for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security
Bruce W. Bennett @bwbennett, Young-jun Kim

In his inaugural address in 1998, former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung defined three principles for Korean peninsula peace and security. How might these principles be adjusted to manage today's changing North Korean threats and the Korean security environment?
Blog
Extremism Online, Russia's Military, Preventing Police Killings: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on the internet's role in stoking extremism and hate, how Russia has failed its military personnel, a research roadmap to help prevent police killings in the United States, and more.
Report
Business Community Support for U.S. Policies Toward China
Bonny Lin, Howard J. Shatz @HowardJShatz, et al.

Policies implemented by the Trump administration were designed to confront China over its problematic behaviors, such as theft of technology and intellectual property. U.S. businesses agreed with the policies, but questioned some of the tactics used. How can Washington address corporate concerns and still compete against China?
Commentary
Ukraine War Is Motivating Taiwan to Better Secure Its Own Future
Derek Grossman @DerekJGrossman

Russia's invasion of Ukraine is probably motivating Taiwan to better secure its own future versus China. But many of the challenges currently facing Taiwan, such as shortcomings in reservist training or lingering confusion over its military strategy, are difficult to fix, assuming they are even fixable.
Commentary
New Philippine President Marcos Jr. Likely Won't Repeat Duterte's Foreign Policy Mistakes
Derek Grossman @DerekJGrossman

Monday's all-but-official election of Bongbong Marcos as the next president of the Philippines will hold significant implications for Manila's foreign policy. He is likely to be influenced by the policies of both his father, former dictator Ferdinand Marcos, and his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, yielding a new government interested in engaging China while keeping the United States close by.
Blog
How Data Can Help Refugees, Homelessness in L.A., Harm Reduction: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on tapping into Facebook data to help refugees, addressing homelessness in Los Angeles, understanding burnout among health care providers, and more.
Report
Securing 5G: A Way Forward in the U.S. and China Security Competition
Daniel Gonzales @gonzadan, Julia Brackup, et al.

Across the United States and globally, 5G networks are being deployed and will one day replace many older cellular networks. But there are security concerns about 5G networks built using Chinese equipment and 5G phones made by some Chinese companies.
Report
Response Options to Cyberattacks on U.S. Government Networks
Quentin E. Hodgson @QHodgson, Yuliya Shokh, et al.

The United States has proved vulnerable to cyber incidents, and a lack of response has emboldened Russia and China to expand their cyber espionage activities. Have U.S. responses changed over time or affected adversary behavior? What lessons do these cases offer for future policymaking?
Report
U.S. Resourcing to National Security Interests in Latin America and the Caribbean
Jason H. Campbell @JasonHCampbell, Stephen Dalzell, et al.

Despite being in the United States' "neighborhood," Latin America and the Caribbean has typically not been a priority region for U.S. national security objectives. What are the goals and objectives of China, Russia, and Iran in this region? And how is each adversary pursuing them?
Report
Challenges of Deploying Ground-Based Intermediate-Range Missiles on Allied Lands
Jeffrey W. Hornung

The United States has been hoping to develop and deploy ground-based intermediate-range missiles to the Indo-Pacific. But what is the likelihood of its treaty allies in the region—Australia, Japan, the Philippines, South Korea, and Thailand—hosting these systems? Are there alternatives to permanent basing?