National Bureau of Asian Research
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{{Infobox organization | name = National Bureau of Asian Research | image = | formation = 1989 | type = think tank | headquarters = Seattle, Washington | leader_title = President | leader_name =
National Bureau of Asian Research
The National Bureau of Asian Research is a Seattle-based policy research institution focused on Asia-Pacific studies, founded in 1989 amidst post-Cold War shifts that involved figures linked to George H. W. Bush, Ronald Reagan administration alumni, and Pacific Rim initiatives such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation dialogue. It engages scholars and practitioners associated with institutions like Harvard University, Stanford University, Georgetown University, Columbia University, and University of Washington to inform officials from bodies including the United States Department of State, United States Department of Defense, U.S. Congress, and international organizations such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the World Bank.
History
The organization emerged during a period shaped by events like the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, the dissolution of the Soviet Union, and the expansion of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation cooperation, drawing support from private foundations tied to families such as the Graham family and donors associated with the Henry M. Jackson Foundation. Early collaborations linked scholars from National Bureau of Economic Research networks and policy veterans from Council on Foreign Relations, Brookings Institution, and Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Over time it expanded ties with regional partners including China Development Research Foundation, Japan Foundation, Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations, and Australian Strategic Policy Institute while responding to crises such as the 1997 Asian financial crisis, the 2001 Indian Parliament attack, and tensions around the South China Sea arbitration.
Mission and Governance
The bureau’s stated mission centers on providing research to inform U.S. and allied decision-makers regarding strategic issues involving countries like China, India, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, and Indonesia. Governance involves a board comprising diplomats, scholars, and corporate leaders with backgrounds at United States Institute of Peace, RAND Corporation, Center for Strategic and International Studies, and major corporations such as Boeing, Microsoft, and ExxonMobil. Leadership has included presidents and senior fellows who previously served in roles connected to the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, and executive departments during administrations from Bill Clinton to Barack Obama and Donald Trump. Advisory councils often feature former ambassadors from missions like U.S. Embassy Beijing and defense specialists from commands such as U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
Research Programs and Centers
Research programming spans thematic centers and project-based initiatives addressing subjects like energy security, maritime disputes, trade, and technology. Programs have convened experts from Tokyo University, Peking University, Tsinghua University, Jawaharlal Nehru University, and National University of Singapore on topics including the Trans-Pacific Partnership, Belt and Road Initiative, Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, and supply-chain resilience after shocks such as the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. Centers collaborate with policy networks such as Asia Society, Pacific Forum, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, and S. Rajaratnam School affiliates to produce work on nuclear non-proliferation linked to cases like North Korea and the Korean War armistice dynamics. Technical studies have involved partnerships with laboratories and institutions like Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers on semiconductor supply chains and telecommunications issues including 5G deployment debates.
Publications and Media
The organization publishes policy reports, working papers, and briefs cited in outlets such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The Economist, and regional media like The Straits Times and South China Morning Post. Its periodicals and series draw contributions from scholars affiliated with Princeton University, Yale University, University of Chicago, London School of Economics, and independent analysts who previously served at institutions like International Monetary Fund and Asian Development Bank. Media output includes podcasts, webinars, and video interviews featuring commentators such as former secretaries and envoys to postings in Tokyo, Seoul, and Beijing and analysts who testified before committees in United States Congress hearings on Asia-Pacific policy.
Events and Outreach
The bureau convenes conferences, roundtables, and delegation trips engaging stakeholders from embassies including Embassy of Japan, Washington, D.C., Embassy of India, Washington, D.C., and delegations from parliaments such as Diet (Japan), Lok Sabha, and National People's Congress. Annual forums have included discussions with participants from ASEAN Regional Forum, East Asia Summit, and academic partners at events hosted alongside Fulbright Program alumni and think tanks like Chatham House and German Marshall Fund. Outreach targets journalists, congressional staff, and corporate boards through briefings that have influenced deliberations on legislation like the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act and policy responses to incidents like the HuaweI controversies.
Funding and Partnerships
Funding sources mix foundation grants from organizations such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Carnegie Corporation, and Ford Foundation, corporate sponsorships from firms like IBM and Intel, and project grants from multilateral institutions including the Asian Development Bank and United Nations Development Programme. The bureau has executed cooperative research with universities including Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs and policy institutes like Korea Development Institute and Japan Institute of International Affairs, while occasional partnerships have generated scrutiny similar to debates involving think tank funding transparency addressed in hearings by the U.S. Senate committees on finance and oversight.