Australia in the World
The case for opening the ADF to citizens of Pacific Islands nations
Other than times of extreme crisis, (e.g., the Second World War), neither Australia or the surrounding South Pacific region has been threatened with military coercion. But with…
Remembering Allan Gyngell, “the finest mind in Australian foreign policy”
Allan Gyngell had a knack for plain speaking – cutting through the honeyed tones that so often stick to debates about foreign policy and Australia’s place in the world.
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Choosing openness in the international economy
The Covid pandemic was good for isolationists and xenophobes, and bad for globalisers and internationalists. Yet since the agricultural revolution, one of the keys to prosperity…
Managing Japan-Australia energy tensions in a time of transition
Yamagami Shingo, who until last week served as Japan’s ambassador to Australia, again voiced criticism of Australia’s energy policy just before leaving his post. The Japanese…
Finding opportunity in Asia’s net-zero transition
The Asia-Pacific region is witnessing a surge in climate action, with nearly all countries in the region committing to achieving net-zero emissions, albeit with varying timeframes…
Economic diplomacy: Friends, rivals and diplomatic gaslighting
Hitting the gas
Japan’s ambassador to Australia Shingo Yamagami made himself an unexpectedly public figure in the reserved Canberra diplomatic corps with his witty social media…
The two big flaws in Penny Wong’s talk of deterrence over Taiwan
Speaking at the Press Club in Canberra last week, Foreign Minister Penny Wong dismissed discussion about war over Taiwan as “dangerous … parlour games”. It was an odd thing to say…
Quad should ask ASEAN to a diplomatic dance
In early 1979, fearing the growing security cooperation between Hanoi and Moscow, China invaded Vietnam. A year earlier, the then-Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping met Singapore’s…
Defence Review: DFAT gets a boost
On a day that was supposed to be all about defence, Australia’s diplomats got some good news.
The Defence Strategic Review released today includes a full chapter on the need…
Defence Strategic Review: Strong chords, with one jarring note
On first impressions, there is a great deal to like in the Labor government’s first major statement on defence policy, National Defence, released today. But to be accurate, this…