20 Mar 2019
Responding to China’s not-so-secret influence campaign
There are downsides to China’s economic value proposition and politicians could do more to prep the public.
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19 Mar 2019
Why Jakarta called in Australia’s ambassador after Christchurch
<p>With an Indonesian among the dead, some local politiking has mixed with sadness following the mosque attacks.</p> -
19 Mar 2019
Not one, but two new points of tension for France in the Pacific
Two tiny and uninhabited islands have revived deep tensions between France and Vanuatu, even after New Caledonia’s vote. -
19 Mar 2019
Christchurch attack: the dark web of terrorism as entertainment
The killer pointedly sought to marry mass killing with fringe online humour, desensitising his “audience” to the horror. -
19 Mar 2019
Peace in Afghanistan: the tumultuous road ahead
The next round of peace talks will be anything but straightforward if the previous negotiations are anything to go by. -
18 Mar 2019
China’s Social Credit System: the black market and inequalities
Could Beijing’s new governance method erode trust between the public and the Party? -
18 Mar 2019
India: never quite in focus
India deserves sustained closer scrutiny, but with Australian media groups shuttering bureaux, attention is fleeting. -
18 Mar 2019
Five questions about the Christchurch attack
There may not be a direct causal link between the attack and conservative political rhetoric. It is too early to tell. -
18 Mar 2019
Diplomatic switch? Solomon Islands relations with Taiwan or China
<p>Honiara might break with Taipei after the April election, and may not be the last in a tug of war with Beijing.</p> -
15 Mar 2019
Singapore’s careful F-35 fighter aircraft purchase
With these flying advanced sensor arrays, the aim could be to protect Singapore as Switzerland of Southeast Asia. -
15 Mar 2019
With US out of favour and China doubts, Duterte turns to Tokyo
Japan has quietly, and successfully, been building ties with the Philippines in a way that could calm a volatile region. -
15 Mar 2019
Brexit: Britain’s Commonwealth pivot is nothing new
Britain has pinned hopes on former colonies before, with overstated consequences then, leaving lingering doubts now. -
15 Mar 2019
China’s “South Asia challenge” for the Belt and Road Initiative
Chinese strategists have identified three trends that pose severe challenges to the promotion of the BRI in South Asia. -
14 Mar 2019
Economic diplomacy: trade and traps in ASEAN
Ecommerce is booming in Southeast Asia, posing a challenge for Australia where goods trade tends to dominate discussion. -
14 Mar 2019
What might a US-China trade deal look like?
A deal will imply that economic separation – or “decoupling” – of the two giant economies has not been pursued. -
14 Mar 2019
Australia and Indonesia trade: deal (not quite) done
Elections in Indonesia and Australia alike could yet be a hurdle to ratification of a long-anticipated trade agreement. -
14 Mar 2019
Sri Lanka: politics overthrows justice
Internal power struggles have kept the administration occupied while its human rights commitments fall to the wayside. -
13 Mar 2019
If 5G takes a little longer in Australia, all the better
The online environment is fundamentally toxic and piecemeal solutions will continue to fail to protect the vulnerable. -
13 Mar 2019
An orthodox economic take on climate change shocks
Climate change has a significant bearing on macroeconomic outcomes such as growth and inflation. -
13 Mar 2019
How open should Australia be about the China challenge?
Andrew Robb wants Australian officials to say more about China’s alleged behaviour. -
13 Mar 2019
Pacific links: faux pas, cricket bats, more
Links and stories from the Pacific Islands region. -
13 Mar 2019
The death penalty paradox in Buddhist Myanmar
U Ko Ni’s death had a chilling effect on democratisation, and capital punishment for his killers won’t undo the damage. -
13 Mar 2019
Military on the front line in Thai election
An ex-army general poised to become prime minister and a junta-manipulated constitution has many Thais fired up. -
12 Mar 2019
China’s growing Latin America ties also matter for Australia
Australia should focus on the southern cone of Latin America to strengthen its own ties with China. -
12 Mar 2019
Fisheries and Brexit – a slippery affair
Catchy, no, but the slogan “British fish for British people” is a symbol of a battle Britons fight within themselves. -
12 Mar 2019
Tokyo may be happy about Hanoi, but has a lot more to worry about
With Pyongyang and Washington, the facts on the ground have not changed much for Japan and could get worse. -
12 Mar 2019
Canberra’s Pacific pivot is bereft of vision
The government’s motivations appear sincere but are riddled with anxiety about the risks of investing in the region. -
11 Mar 2019
Book Review: A Partnership Transformed
For three decades, the Asian Development Bank successfully helped the People’s Republic of China in opening up. -
11 Mar 2019
An Australian model for the renewable-energy transition
Australia is on track for deep and rapid greenhouse emissions reductions. Most countries can follow the same path. -
11 Mar 2019
Can the Taliban movement become a meaningful diplomatic actor?
Despite the urgency for peace in Afghanistan, it is important to evaluate the characteristics of the Taliban. -
11 Mar 2019
Matthew Flinders, national pride and dinner diplomacy
Scientific discovery has a long history of serving the high politics of state. -
8 Mar 2019
The long struggle of the women’s movement in Indonesian politics
The lost history of Indonesian women in politics is slowly emerging, but the obstacles to participation are many. -
8 Mar 2019
What the pessimists get wrong about Trump in Asia
It is possible to discern a slowly emerging US strategy for dealing amid the tweets of fury. -
8 Mar 2019
Women of influence in South Korea
Spycams, #metoo, the corset movement – the women of South Korea have been campaigning to bring about a wave of change. -
8 Mar 2019
Silencing women’s voices in Saudi Arabia
Universal rights aren’t guaranteed. A few rights are granted by the monarchy. The world should speak up for Saudi women. -
7 Mar 2019
Kim and Trump, again: North Korea’s drives the wedge
Denuclarisation has stalled, but Pyongyang is still reaping the rewards by playing off the US and South Korea. -
7 Mar 2019
China cabinet: Two Sessions, W-We’ve got Two Sessions
Forget concerns about Xi Jinping’s all-consuming leadership – gangsta attitude and Party time is on the agenda today. -
7 Mar 2019
The great China debate: Clive Hamilton v Hugh White
Two heavyweight commentators duked it out on relations with China – and The Interpreter was there to watch. -
7 Mar 2019
The global significance of an electoral showdown in Europe
The May elections shape as a contest for the heart of the European Union and win back voters who feel abandoned. -
6 Mar 2019
Hail for the chief: loudspeakers return to China’s villages
<p>Of all the Cultural Revolution hangovers, the return of Party cant via noisy “la ba” was the last thing expected.</p> -
6 Mar 2019
Violence in Myanmar: look elsewhere than Security Council
The Security Council should not have a stranglehold on international justice, and all options should be on the table. -
6 Mar 2019
Aid links: donation paradox, surface-water tension, and more
Links and stories from the aid and development sector. -
6 Mar 2019
Political leadership versus diplomacy
Political leadership and diplomacy evolved over thousands of years into distinct fields - for good reasons. -
6 Mar 2019
In New Zealand, much ado about China
<p>There is talk of a downturn in NZ-China relations. But in reality, the two have never had a perfect relationship.</p> -
5 Mar 2019
Malaysia joins the International Criminal Court
Why now, after resisting membership for more than 20 years, has Malaysia decided to ratify the Rome Statute? -
5 Mar 2019
Learning from Brexit in Donald Trump’s America
Internationalists need to be clear about what needs protection and what needs reimagining, and build public support. -
5 Mar 2019
Trump is 0–2 in his on-the-fly diplomacy with Kim. Time to stop
A mix of bluster, laziness, and media over-exposure is not going to get a deal done and revolutionise North Korea ties. -
5 Mar 2019
The Huawei indictments: allegations and politics
The Justice Department’s allegations are serious but the Chinese company doesn’t seem versed in intelligence tradecraft. -
4 Mar 2019
Australia, it’s time to put our political diplomats to the test
There’s a better way to deal with politicians-turned-ambassadors and it comes from (whisper it) the United States. -
4 Mar 2019
Breaking Russia’s space stranglehold
America’s new spacecraft represents a significant strategic shift in space.