Asia
How Trump’s new approach to Pakistan might pan out
Perhaps the most notable part of President Trump's new Afghanistan 'strategy' is its treatment of Pakistan, with Trump saying out loud what was once largely debated and threatened…
What is gained by shooting missiles across Japan?
On Tuesday morning, North Korean launched a missile over the southern tip of Hokkaido in northern Japan.
Given the close interdependence of North Korea’s satellite launch program…
Japan’s five years of Abenomics
For many international observers, the Japanese economy is an enigma. On the face of it, the economy has been in bad shape ever since the Japanese stock market began to crash in…
Trump’s Afghanistan policy: Best in 16 years
Part One of this series looked at what President Trump’s recent Afghanistan policy announcement told us about the President and his administration. This post examines the policy…
Hun Sen prepares for next year’s national elections
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen often criticises those he sees as his political enemies but even seasoned observers have been puzzled by his recent attack on English-language…
From trial to exile?: What's next for Thailand’s Yingluck
Today, former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra was due in Thailand's Supreme Court to hear the ruling on charges against her of dereliction of duty while in office. Unlike her…
Digital Asia links: Cambodia’s crackdown, Islam via app, India-China’s video war and more
Brunei has launched a religious education app, Islamic Mind Brunei, created in collaboration with the Department of Islamic Education. The app was initially launched in Indonesia,…
North Korea shipments raise questions about Syria's chemical weapons
On 22 August, Reuters reported that two North Korean shipments of unspecified goods on their way to Syria had recently been intercepted. Citing a confidential UN sanctions…
Doklam stand-off may spark Indian Ocean tensions
The two-month standoff between India and China on the desolate Doklam plateau in the Himalayas shows no signs of ending. Indeed, while both sides have so far been careful to avoid…
Australia-Japan trade relations: From mines to the lab and back
The stability of Australia’s commercial relationship with Japan conceals some significant developments.
Japan, one of our most dependable customers, was our top export market for…