Asia Pacific Archives

Research Briefing

The Philippines: September 2016 update

Monday, 19 September, 2016

President Rodrigo Duterte took office at the end of June 2016 pledging to take a tough approach to criminals. Since then, over 3,000 people have been killed in his controversial 'war on drugs', about two-thirds at the hands of vigilantes. There have been protests both at home and abroad. Duterte is also pushing ahead with peace efforts in the south, where there has been a long-running insurgency, but observers worry that the new president could prove to be a 'loose cannon'.
Debate Pack

South Korea and the dog meat trade

Friday, 09 September, 2016

This pack has been prepared ahead of the debate to be held in Westminster Hall on Monday 12 September 2016 at 4.30pm on an e-petition entitled ‘Urge the South Korean Government to end the brutal dog meat trade’. The subject for the debate was selected by the Petitions Committee, and the Member in charge is Oliver Dowden.
Research Briefing

The South China Sea dispute: July 2016 update

Tuesday, 12 July, 2016

Southeast Asia is home to a range of complex territorial disputes, but the most intractable and combustible is the South China Sea dispute. Tensions between the rival countries have been on the rise in recent years. An Arbitral Tribunal constituted under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea has ruled in favour of the Philippines in a case brought by that country against China.
Debate Pack

Political situation in Burma

Monday, 21 March, 2016

The House of Commons Library prepares a briefing in hard copy and/or online for most non-legislative debates in the Chamber and Westminster Hall other than half-hour debates. Debate Packs are produced after the announcement of parliamentary business. They are intended to provide a summary or overview of the issue being debated and identify relevant briefings and useful documents, including press and parliamentary material. More detailed briefing can be prepared for Members on request to the Library.
Research Briefing

A fool’s errand? Trying to make sense of North Korea

Thursday, 03 March, 2016

North Korea has been in the news again since the beginning of the year as a result of its nuclear weapon test in January (its fourth since 2006) and ballistic missile test (disguised as a satellite launch) in February, along with continuing reports of purges of senior regime figures. And yesterday, the UN Security Council
- Research Briefing
- Asia Pacific
Insight

A fool’s errand? Trying to make sense of North Korea

Thursday, 03 March, 2016
- Insight
- Asia Pacific
Debate Pack

Persecution of Ahmadiyya Muslims and other religious minorities in Pakistan

Monday, 08 February, 2016

The House of Commons Library prepares a briefing in hard copy and/or online for most non-legislative debates in the Chamber and Westminster Hall other than half-hour debates. Debate Packs are produced quickly after the announcement of parliamentary business. They are intended to provide a summary or overview of the issue being debated and identify relevant briefings and useful documents, including press and parliamentary material. More detailed briefing can be prepared for Members on request to the Library.
Debate Pack

Relationship between the UK and Kazakhstan

Tuesday, 29 December, 2015

This is a Debate Pack for the debate on the ‘Relationship between the UK and Kazakhstan’, in Westminster Hall on Tuesday 5 January 2016 (1.30pm). Debate Packs are collections of parliamentary and other relevant material produced for most non-legislative debates in the Chamber and Westminster Hall, other than half-hour adjournment debates.
Research Briefing

Pakistan: November 2015 update

Monday, 30 November, 2015

The Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) government, led by prime minister Nawaz Sharif, is now well into its third year in power. Its tenure has arguably seen a weakening of civilian authority, although there seems little prospect of a military coup. But the overall security situation within the country has improved markedly during 2015.
Research Briefing

Afghanistan: back on the agenda?

Tuesday, 27 October, 2015

As the Taliban has made gains and ISIS has a foothold in Afghanistan, the US has announced that it will not withdraw its troops so quickly as planned.
Research Briefing

Nepal: October 2015 political update

Wednesday, 14 October, 2015

Constitutional blues In November 2006, the Nepal government and Maoist insurgents signed a peace agreement that promised to end ten years of bloody civil war. At the heart of the deal was agreement to negotiate a new constitutional settlement. Within a short time, the monarchy was abolished. But agreeing a new Constitution has proven painfully slow
- Research Briefing
- Asia Pacific
Insight

Nepal: October 2015 political update

Wednesday, 14 October, 2015
- Insight
- Asia Pacific
Research Briefing

The Sustainable Development Goals and the post-2015 development agenda

Monday, 28 September, 2015

On 25 September UN Member States agreed 17 'Sustainable Development Goals' at an extraordinary Summit of the UN General Assembly. At various points during the negotiations, the UK Government expressed concern that 17 goals was too many. Debates continue over how far the goals embody a 'transformational agenda'.
Research Briefing

Overview of military drones used by the UK Armed Forces

Friday, 11 September, 2015

Remotely Piloted or Unmanned Aircraft, more commonly known as drones, have been described as the most contentious conventional weapons system currently in use. This note provides an overview of their use by the UK armed forces.
Research Briefing

Key Issues for the 2015 Parliament

Tuesday, 19 May, 2015

This book examines the key issues facing the House of Commons over the course of the 2015 Parliament - from the public finances to the UK’s membership of the EU and from school places for children to climate change.

Total results (page 15 of 22)