Indonesia’s election debates: there’s substance in the style
The televised debates bring the campaign to a country that has only been practising democracy for 20 years.
The televised debates bring the campaign to a country that has only been practising democracy for 20 years.
India’s retaliation against Pakistan is predictable, and not at all effective in tackling sources of Kashmir’s strife.
The eagerness to blame Indonesians for the cathedral attack sets back regional cooperation, exactly when most needed.
The social media network is a battleground in a sociopolitical conflict, prompting fractures and heresies within elites.
The seeds sown 100 years ago have resulted in the freedoms enjoyed in South Korea by over 50 million people today.
China’s growing economic and political strength globally brings both challenges and opportunities for the Pacific.
Victims of “red tagging,” or the false branding of activists as communist insurgents, can be fatal in the Philippines.
The diplomatic tit-for-tat between the two neighbours for the territorial claim of the waterway has a long history.
The extreme concentration of aid from Australia to PNG stands out. It may be time for others to get involved.
Alarm is growing the WTO’s dispute settlement mechanism may soon suffer the same credibility loss as its deal-making.
A seemingly minor move on Venezuela has potential ramifications for every country Australia has diplomatic ties with.
Unemployment woes, unhappy farmers, and new faces in the game see Modi turn on his populist charm in an attempt to woo.
A case where Bahrain didn’t need to win to send a chill of horror up the spines of other dissidents watching on.
Links and stories from the Pacific Islands region.
The medical evacuation bill is a really a debate on the limits of political discretion.
Peter Jackson has reclaimed the voices of veterans, and with technical prowess offered a glimpse of the battlefield.
How to make portfolio flows “sticky” and avoid short-term swings in foreign sentiment sees an old idea gain new life.
A culture of impunity has proved stubborn and entrenched.
The rush to loan-financed infrastructure is a geopolitical play, but does not consider the wellbeing of the recipients.
Robust processes and security apparatus are needed before embracing the collection of vast amounts of sensitive data.
The path to leadership is littered with old players and the status quo, not economic diversity.
China is pushing to expand its navigation of the Mekong River, raising tricky questions of sovereignty and environment.
Many assume that China intends to replace American predominance in the Indian Ocean. But sea control seems unrealistic.
Heritage and culture is cast aside in a society where it is sinful to block another person’s pathway to wealth.
It’s very unusual for key players from the country’s two most powerful institutions to publicly showcase divisions.
Sometimes the dangers for refugees in transit are presented by the very people from whom they seek protection.
Reported comments by Australia’s ambassador to the US warning Trump against a “pyrrhic” win with China seem out of step.
A Democrat-controlled House and a feisty Republican senate auger meaningful congressional oversight of foreign affairs.
New data shows Russian power not only nuclear weapons. Asian states are being brought into Moscow’s sphere of influence.
Complex modern conflict makes identifying the cause of the war dead impossible. This seems to have eluded some lobbies.
Trump and Kim Jong-un will meet in Vietnam, a backdrop with history for the US and promise for North Korea.
A hoary “what if”, but Trump has helped calm Korean peninsula dangers in a way that may have eluded his 2016 rival.
Is Australia stepping up pushback against Beijing? And why is China worried about economic bad views?
Diplomacy has not found facebook to be an easy or effective way to improve engagement across borders.
The case for a woman to lead the World Bank, the poverty paradox, and stories from the aid and development sector.
Fatal bombings just few days after the historic vote demonstrated that peacebuilding in the region is contentious.
Insights gleaned from Taliban documents suggest little chance of an escape from strife.
A compelling political thriller, dabbling in both sides of the Brexit divide, if ultimately settling on Remain.
The agricultural lobby is making trouble for Taiwan’s president, yet tackling vested interests might be key to winning.
Why not start by demanding North Korea finally give us a list or inventory of its weapons?
Southeast Asia now has an estimated 96 million people suffering from Type II diabetes, a fifth of all cases worldwide.
Pyongyang’s recent proposal of Korean reunification has parallels in history – to periods it has felt confident.
Diplomacy in the Pacific should exploit one of Australia’s special attributes – the love of competition.
Should the US agree to a full pull-out of its troops, Afghanistan may fall into the chaos of the past.
In an effort to curb misinformation, WhatsApp will limit message forwards. Could this affect Indonesia’s elections?
Mahathir’s promise to scrap or renegotiate “unequal” infrastructure deals with Beijing – a plan easier said than done.
Cabinet papers from the Howard government offer a glimpse into Australia’s first steps toward bilateral trade deals.
Vital information is lost when the Philippines military is encouraged to kill rather than arrest the perpetrators.
Leaving the treaty would allow the US to quickly build up regional arsenal of new nuclear weapons to challenge China.
Links and stories from the Pacific Islands region.