Asia
Why Kim Jong-un will soon miss Donald Trump
If US President Donald Trump loses the 3 November election, North Korea’s Kim Jong-un will be first in line to mourn Trump’s departure from the White House. Despite a rocky start …
Seychelles: New man, changing strategic environment
The election of Wavel Ramkalawan as President of Seychelles breaks the 43-year stranglehold of the party of former dictator France-Albert René. For Australia and the West, the…
Commentary
US election: Trump's China policy is here to stay, no matter who wins
Allies see America as tougher, but weaker. Originally published in Nikkei Asia.
Thailand: Military, monarchy and the masses
At the heart of Thai street protests is the country’s inability to agree how power should be gained and used. What we are witnessing is a break from the past. The new king is more…
How South Koreans view the prospect of a Trump re-election
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that allies do not pay enough for the American military presence in their country, reportedly suggesting South Korea (among others…
Rebirth of the quadrilateral Malabar: Promises and portents for India
Lying at the south-eastern extremity of the Indian peninsula, the Malabar is a serene, idyllic region at the confluence of the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean…
Singapore and Sri Lanka: Newfound opportunities amid Covid-19 pandemic
Photos of empty supermarket shelves became commonplace in the first weeks of the Covid-19 pandemic. The shutting down of borders and decreasing trade have affected many…
Analyses
2020 Asia Power Index Key Findings Report
The annual Asia Power Index — launched by the Lowy Institute in 2018 — measures resources and influence to rank the relative power of states in Asia. The project maps out the…
Can Covid-19 advance gender equality in China’s health policies?
The Chinese government has officially encouraged women to have equal roles in social, economic and political life. Still, traditional culture and practice continue to subject…
Reading between the lines: Duterte’s careful South China Sea speech
Since coming to office, President Rodrigo Duterte has largely ignored the 2016 arbitration award made in favour of the Philippines under the United Nations Convention on the Law…