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.

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. 

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. 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.”

USAI is deeply saddened by Dr. Dollar’s recent passing, and we are grateful for his collaboration with us over the years

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.

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 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.

This episode features Mark Manantan, the Director of Cybersecurity and Critical Technologies at the Pacific Forum. 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.

This episode features Justin Hall, a partner at Golden Gate Ventures. 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.

This episode features Ramesh Subramaniam, Director General of the Southeast Asia Department for the Asian Development Bank. 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’.

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.

This episode features Gregory Poling, Director of the Southeast Asia Program and Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Gregory speaks about the outlook for the Philippines’ foreign policy and climate and environmental goals under the Marcos administration.

Lai and Kelly are joined by 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.

This episode of Asia Unscripted features Tyler Rasch, who speaks about his experiences working in South Korea, and shares his insights into the intersections between Korean media, popular culture, and politics.

In this new episode of Asia Unscripted, Laura Silver and Sheena Greitens discuss Pew Research Center's recently published report about the views of Americans towards China.

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.

This episode of Asia Unscripted features Alexander Feldman of the US-ASEAN Business Council. Mr. Feldman speaks about economic recovery in ASEAN and trends of business and investment in the region.

In the episode, Mr. Sibarani Sofian speaks about the 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.

This week's episode of Asia Unscripted features two guests, Tim Ryan and Atley Chock of the Solidarity Center, who speak about workers’ rights in Thailand as well as the labor disruptions and challenges caused by COVID-19.