Global Issues
The British Indian Ocean Territory and the rules-based order
Various contributors to The Interpreter’s Chagos Question debate assert that Britain’s controversial claim to the Chagos Archipelago (British Indian Ocean…
Hyundai takes the driver’s seat in Indonesia’s EV market
In March, President Joko Widodo helped launch Indonesia’s first locally made electric vehicle – the IONIQ 5 – at a ceremony for a new automotive plant operated by the…
Stemming the tide of piracy in Southeast Asia
In April, the International Chamber of Commerce published a new report on piracy and armed robbery against ships. Among 37 incidents recorded worldwide in the first three months…
PNG’s elections: dangers that lie on social media
How many Facebook accounts and pages claim to belong to Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister James Marape? Between 20 and 35, depending on the point in time and your definition, none…
Global food threats: a chicken and egg story
A slew of countries have announced food export bans or higher food export taxes as a result of the war in Ukraine. The initial shortages in the global wheat supply following…
Labor should create a “Regional Carbon Bank” for ASEAN and the Pacific
Much of the discussion about climate change policy in Australia has focused on the changes needed by the new Albanese Labor government to align Australia with international goals…
Knowledge is power: A small investment for a big return
Amid regular expressions of concern about the growing influence of autocratic nations in Asia and strategic competition in the Pacific, Australia should look at investing more in…
Water torture: Asia‑Pacific’s “WASH” crisis in need of solutions
With cruel symbolism, last month a UN conference focused on water challenges concluded in Jakarta just as floods deluged parts of South Asia and India’s capital New Delhi suffered…
Multilateralism matters again
Freshly sworn in and already warmly welcomed by Quad leaders in Tokyo, Anthony Albanese got off to a swinging start on the foreign policy front. As the realities of government set…
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…