Asia
Bangladesh: the latest assault on free speech
Bangladesh already suffers poor standards when respecting freedom of expression, but a new set of laws will enable the government to suppress political dissent and…
Analyses
Reinforcing Indonesia–Australia defence relations: The case for maritime recalibration
A maritime realignment of Australia–Indonesia defence relations could shape the broader Indo-Pacific security architecture and provide an additional strategic hedge for…
Sulawesi tsunami: how Australia can best help
Yet another tsunami in Indonesia. The earthquake and resulting wave of destruction in Palu, Central Sulawesi, is the second major natural disaster to strike the…
A bittersweet victory for Prime Minister Abe
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was re-elected Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s President for his third and final term on 20 September, securing him the prime ministership for…
India's game-changing health care initiative
It has been dubbed the world’s biggest experiment in universal health care.
Last Sunday, India launched its A$2.2 billion universal health care plan that was promised in the…
Death of a president: no power vacuum in Vietnam
The death of Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang was unexpected by the general public: he was due to address the UN General Assembly this week, and Vietnam’s one-party system has…
Sliding rupiah causes Jakarta jitters
Capital has been flowing out of emerging economies around the world, causing currencies and financial markets to fall. While tightening global liquidity was the initial catalyst,…
China’s ‘divide and conquer’ charm offensive
China’s ‘charm’ offensive on Taiwan’s autonomy has gone up a level in recent months. Starting from 1 September, Beijing has allowed Taiwanese who have lived in China for more than…
Reports
Expanding Horizons: Indonesia's Regional Engagement in the Indo-Pacific Era
Lowy Institute Non-resident Fellow Matthew Busch contributed a chapter on the political economy of Indonesia’s natural resource wealth to this Perth US Asia Centre Report.
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Exploring Taiwan’s aid to the Pacific
In July, the Marshall Islands signed a visa-free entry agreement with Taiwan, a clear testament to the strong diplomatic ties that Taiwan has achieved with some Pacific…