Media
China v US: Who needs allies?
People often argue that America’s alliances in Asia are a decisive advantage in its contest with China for regional strategic primacy. China’s only ally, they say, is North Korea, while America has...
Angela Merkel declares independence, sort of
German Chancellor Angela Merkel might have just told the Frankfurt beer hall crowd earlier this week that ‘The times in which we could completely depend on others are on the way out’. But she didn...
Asean’s response to Chinese militarisation in the South China Sea? Keep quiet and carry on
As far as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations is concerned, the islands in the South China Sea are rising but the sea is sinking. The outcome of the 30th Asean Summit last week in Manila...
Has ASEAN given up on tackling the South China Sea issue?
The outcome of the 30th ASEAN Summit on 29 April in Manila suggests that the Southeast Asian region has moved on from the disputes over South China Sea, despite the fact that no other issue more...
Different Paths to a Common Goal: Enhancing Canada-Australia Collaboration in Asia
Australia and Canada have been described as “strategic cousins” – two countries with much in common in terms of their foreign policy interests. Both are federal bicameral Westminster-style...
Trump is not serious about dealing with North Korea
Call me an optimist, but I think war on the Korean Peninsula is very unlikely. That’s the good news. The bad news is that the Trump Administration’s bellicose and amateurish antics over the issue are...
Australia must reshape links with China
The week’s events aside, Australia and China have never had such a promising relationship as today. Chinese tourists are the largest group of visitors from abroad and the biggest foreign spenders in...
Bishop's doctrine of denial is no foreign policy future
Julie Bishop is anxious about Asia. She worries about intensifying economic competition as too many workers in rising economies chase too few consumers elsewhere. And she worries about intensifying...
Is 'Manis' the sweet deal that brings Australia & Indonesia together?
Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia featured prominently 75 years ago for Australia when our troops deployed and fought there in the Pacific War. We do well to commemorate their efforts and the losses...
Australia must be dexterous in its ties with Trump's America
The most important quality in statecraft is imagination. The capacity to imagine consequences of actions, as well as inaction, and devise a path through what are often a range of unappetising...
