China
Is Beijing's militarisation of the South China Sea really 'defensive'?
The latest buzzword of the South China Sea 'war of words', as observed in media reports, academic opinion and official press remarks is none other than 'militarisation'. But what…
The domestic politics of Jakarta's South China Sea policy
Over the past week, there have been renewed calls for Jakarta to take a tougher stance against Beijing following an incident where a Chinese coast guard vessel rammed one of its…
What India thinks about the South China Sea
Developments in the South China Sea are bringing India into a debate it generally maintains a distance from. India's shift in its maritime policies and a relatively vocal stand on…
Philippines vs China in South China Sea: Tough talking could box China in
The International Court in The Hague is due to soon rule on the case of the Philippines vs the People’s Republic of China in the South China Sea. The general…
South China Sea: Beijing is winning, but here's how to retake the initiative
China is once again causing concern in the South China Sea, this time by moving surface-to-air missiles to the Paracel Islands.
Over several years, this dispute has evolved into…
Double trouble: China's bid to increase birth rate is no sure thing
By Marie-Alice McLean-Dreyfus, an intern with the Lowy Institute's East Asia Program
China's historic policy change to allow all couples to have two children was presented as an…
How did the Chinese media react to the Tianjin explosions?
By Jackson Kwok, an intern in the Lowy Institute's East Asia Program, and Merriden Varrall, Director of the East Asia Program, Lowy Institute.
It has now been more than a week…
Lowy poll shows that values matter in foreign policy
The 2015 Lowy Institute Poll reveals a great deal about Australian attitudes towards China, both in terms of our bilateral relationship, but also how China fits into our broader…
Under the Dome and India's Daughter: Documentaries stir powerful online reaction in Asia
Conflict has broken out across Asia. Militaries aren't involved and there are unlikely to be human casualties, but this conflict is already re-shaping our most important partners…
Why do so many Chinese expect war?
A professor of classical music in Beijing startled me in 2010 when he said, 'when I look at my students, I fear we are headed for war within five years.'
'War with whom?', I…