Asia
Commentary
The uses and the limits of the Quad
The Quad prevents China getting its own way all the time. But bilateral relations in the rest of the region are just as important in constraining Beijing. Originally published in…
Commentary
Duelling diplomacy in the Pacific should dispel the notion of a China-Australia reset
However much either side tempers their rhetoric, regional competition is the name of the game. Originally published in the Guardian.
A tale of two countries: interpreting The Kashmir Files
Singapore recently banned the controversial Indian film, The Kashmir Files, for its “provocative and one-sided portrayal” of Muslims, citing concerns over its “potential to cause…
“Black ships”, the Quad and space
At the first in-person leaders’ summit of the Quad in Washington in September last year, the four member countries came forward with an ambitious space agenda. A working group was…
Albanese steps cautiously through the Quad wrangle
The staff at the neighbourhood convenience store here in Tokyo are always amused when I drop by to pick up four or five papers in the morning. That I have done it twice this week…
Commentary
China's own hotheadedness reinforces Quad's strategic importance
Biden aiming to shore up what the body stands for with first trip to the region. Originally published in Nikkei Asia.
Analyses
Turning point? Putin, Xi, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has exposed the limitations of the Sino–Russian partnership.
Engaging with Southeast Asia: more than aid
During the Australian election campaign, Labor pledged $470 million aid to Southeast Asia over four years, marking it as an attempt to re-engage the region. Labor also promised to…
PNG and the Solomon Islands-China security agreement
Reactions to the security agreement between Solomon Islands and China were swift and relentless. Much of the rhetoric is creating needless anxieties. It demonstrates that an…
Lies, damn lies, and North Korea’s Covid statistics
More than two years since North Korea locked down its border in January 2020 and went on to record zero Covid-19 cases and deaths across all the months since, the country last…