China

The Maldives: geopolitics of Chinese tourism
The Maldives: geopolitics of Chinese tourism
For the decade prior to Covid-19, China was the Maldives' biggest source of tourism. The pandemic changed all that, with arrivals dropping from 284,000 in 2019 to 34,000 in 2020…
With caution and tact: How Asian countries voted on Ukraine at the UN 
With caution and tact: How Asian countries voted on Ukraine at the UN 
On 26 February last year, a few days after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations issued a statement expressing “concern’’ over the “evolving…
What the China thaw means for Australia’s trade diversification agenda
What the China thaw means for Australia’s trade diversification agenda
The meeting this week between Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell and his Chinese counterpart Commerce Minister Wang Wentao represents more than just the next instalment in the…
China’s growth prospects after zero-Covid
China’s growth prospects after zero-Covid
China’s economy has had a tough time of late. The strict lockdowns associated with the earlier zero-Covid policy and Beijing’s subsequent messy reversal saw economic growth…
The big picture: five lessons for five years of the Asia Power Index
The big picture: five lessons for five years of the Asia Power Index
This morning we released the 2023 edition of the Lowy Institute Asia Power Index. This data-driven assessment measures national resources and international influence to determine…
Chinese grey zone spy balloons over the American heartland
Chinese grey zone spy balloons over the American heartland
Bizarrely, the Chinese have sent a high-flying spy balloon deep into the American heartland. The logic is that such balloons fly more than 22.2 kilometres above the surface. Under…
A Chinese invasion of Taiwan isn’t inevitable
A Chinese invasion of Taiwan isn’t inevitable
On 1 February, the People’s Liberation Army sent 20 aircraft across the median line dividing Taiwan from the Chinese mainland. Taiwan’s Defence Ministry responded to the…
Global energy scarcity and the South China Sea
Global energy scarcity and the South China Sea
Last month, the Indonesian government approved natural gas exploration in the Tuna gas bloc, part of the largest untapped natural gas deposit in the world. The development of the…
Economic diplomacy: Diversification is hard to do
Economic diplomacy: Diversification is hard to do
Catching up It is now 25 years since then World Bank senior vice-president and chief economist Joseph Stiglitz remarkably turned on his employer to set out a roadmap for …
How will China’s punitive trade restrictions against Australia end?
How will China’s punitive trade restrictions against Australia end?
Recent reports of an imminent meeting between Australia’s and China’s trade ministers have raised hopes of progress toward the removal of the trade restrictions that China imposed…