Richard Javad Heydarian

Biography
Publications

Richard Javad Heydarian is a Manila-based columnist, academic, and author. He has written for the world’s leading publications, including The New York Times, Washington Post, The Guardian, Foreign Affairs, and is a regular contributor to Aljazeera English, Nikkei Asian Review, South China Morning Post, and the Straits Times. His latest books include Asia’s New Battlefield (Zed, 2015), The Rise of Duterte: A Populist Revolt against Elite Democracy (Palgrave Macmillan, 2017) and The Indo-Pacific: Trump, China, and the New Global Struggle for Mastery (Palgrave Macmillan, 2019). He is also a regular contributor to leading global think tanks such as Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Brooking Institution, and Council on Foreign Relations.

Trump hands Beijing a gift: nervous Asian allies
Trump hands Beijing a gift: nervous Asian allies
US unpredictability emboldens pro-China voices in Manila and Taipei.
Head in sand, the way of the ASEAN ostrich
Head in sand, the way of the ASEAN ostrich
Malaysia’s chairmanship sidestepped divisive issues. Manila’s turn will force ASEAN to confront its paralysis.
Where the Philippines might lead ASEAN
Where the Philippines might lead ASEAN
Will Manila shake off its “deputy sheriff” badge to become the anchor of a new coalition in Southeast Asia?
Philippines: Marcos in the middle
Philippines: Marcos in the middle
While regularly seen as “pro-American”, the Marcos Jr administration has also embraced a more multipolar vision of the world that goes beyond the dictates of any superpower.
A South China Sea collision brings US-Philippines alliance to the fore
A South China Sea collision brings US-Philippines alliance to the fore
Beijing again turns aggressive in contested waters but in doing so betrays feeling spooked.
Trump’s bearhug for the Philippines
Trump’s bearhug for the Philippines
While other Asian allies face American pressure, the Philippines enjoys special treatment – but at the cost of strategic flexibility.
From ICC to Indo-Pacific: The Philippines’ strategic bargaining against superpower rivalries
From ICC to Indo-Pacific: The Philippines’ strategic bargaining against superpower rivalries
A case study in how to reduce dependence on America as well as actively promote a rules-based order.
Trump’s grand bargain? The Philippines caught between US and China
Trump’s grand bargain? The Philippines caught between US and China
Manila is increasingly aware that a defence dilemma could be exposed by the president’s transactional foreign policy.
Can Malaysia drive ASEAN like the pony express?
Can Malaysia drive ASEAN like the pony express?
Or does the regional grouping remain stuck in the stable?
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