Richard McGregor

Senior Fellow for East Asia
Richard McGregor
Biography
Publications
News and media

Richard McGregor is Senior Fellow for East Asia at the Lowy Institute, Australia’s premier foreign policy think tank, in Sydney.

Richard is a former Beijing and Washington bureau chief for the Financial Times and the author of numerous books on East Asia.

His most recent book, Xi Jinping: The Backlash, was published by Penguin Australia as a Lowy Institute Paper in August 2019. His book on Sino-Japanese relations, Asia’s Reckoning: China, Japan and the Fate of U.S. Power in the Pacific Century (Penguin Books, 2017), was called “shrewd and knowing” by the Wall Street Journal and the “best book of the year” by the Literary Review in the United Kingdom. In late 2018, it won the Prime Minister of Australia’s Literary Award for Non-Fiction. His book, The Party (Penguin Books, 2010), on the inner-workings of the Chinese Communist Party, was translated into seven languages and chosen by the Asia Society and Mainichi Shimbun in Japan as their book of the year.

Richard is a Senior Associate (Non-resident) at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in the United States. He was also a visiting scholar at the Wilson Center and George Washington University in Washington DC from 2014-2016.

Australia’s politicians must get to know the neighbours
Commentary
Australia’s politicians must get to know the neighbours
When other democracies are watching see how we manage China, it is odd that Australia is looking so far away for inspiration. Originally published in The Australian Financial…
On China, Australia is left counting the cost
Commentary
On China, Australia is left counting the cost
The Australian government’s approach to its biggest foreign policy challenge is not working. There needs to be less conflict and more statecraft. Originally published in the…
Fareed Zakaria on Australia’s “opportunity” between the US and China
Fareed Zakaria on Australia’s “opportunity” between the US and China
Inspiration from a tiny giant in Southeast Asia might help Australia find a way through multiple diplomatic obstacles.
China sends a message with Australian crackdown
Commentary
China sends a message with Australian crackdown
Pressure by Beijing offers a glimpse of the road map for a more illiberal order. Originally published in the Financial Times.
Xi Jinping’s Strength is China’s Weakness
Commentary
Xi Jinping’s Strength is China’s Weakness
Unlike any other Chinese leader since 1949, he has no identifiable rivals and no likely successors. Originally published in The New York Times.
Xi Jinping speeds China's ascent
Commentary
Xi Jinping speeds China's ascent
China's leader is driving his country to match a declining America by 2035. That is only four or five Australian elections away. Originally published in the Australian Financial…
US election: Trump's China policy is here to stay, no matter who wins
Commentary
US election: Trump's China policy is here to stay, no matter who wins
Allies see America as tougher, but weaker. Originally published in Nikkei Asia.
COVIDcast: Wolf warriors in the age of Covid, with Shivshankar Menon and Richard McGregor
Podcasts
COVIDcast: Wolf warriors in the age of Covid, with Shivshankar Menon and Richard McGregor
In this episode of COVIDcast, Richard McGregor, Lowy Institute Senior Fellow, sat down with Shivshankar Menon to discuss the latest currents in Chinese foreign policy,…
COVIDcast: Wolf warriors in the age of Covid, with Yun Sun And Richard McGregor
Podcasts
COVIDcast: Wolf warriors in the age of Covid, with Yun Sun And Richard McGregor
In this episode of COVIDcast, Richard McGregor, Lowy Institute Senior Fellow, sat down with Yun Sun to get a Chinese perspective on Beijing’s latest foreign policy moves.
Top