When Australia adopted the term ‘Indo-Pacific’ five years ago—replacing ‘Asia–Pacific’—the aim was to widen Canberra’s understanding of ‘the region’. ‘Ho hum’, said the region. Now, the idea of the Indo-Pacific is humming. Japan’s Shinzō Abe …
Articles by: "Graeme Dobell"
A lot of ‘c’ words were tossed at China during the Shangri-La Dialogue—collaboration and competition, coercion and consequences, challenges and choices. The dangers of combativeness. Dark conclusions about China’s militarisation of the South China Sea. …
The joke of the week in Singapore: A Singapore man goes to bed in May 1988 and sleeps for three decades. In May 2018, he awakes to be astonished by the length of his beard and the …
Australia and New Zealand are reaching for fresh thoughts about the South Pacific. Canberra offers the Islands economic and security ‘integration’ and a ‘step-up’ in engagement. The new government in Wellington promises to ‘shift the …
Often, Australian policy in the South Pacific is aid policy. Our development assistance and aid dollars are always alive and active and about in the Islands, doing essential work even when Canberra’s attention is elsewhere. …
Australian defence white papers come along occasionally and foreign policy papers are rare, but each year Canberra produces a geoeconomic report card. Although the federal budget is an intensely domestic creature, the Treasury documents always …
The new Oz–China icy age blows through many Australian worlds: security, economics and trade, social, diplomatic and political. The orbits of these worlds converge, shifting political tides and disrupting social weather. Traditionally, dragon slayers worry …
As China and Australia are demonstrating, icy periods between nations are difficult and challenging. Even dangerous. Yet along with the perils of thrills and spills, chills are illuminating. The icy age disrupts the usual rhythms. …
The fifth icy age has descended on China–Australia relations—cooling business, frosting diplomacy and chilling strategic perspectives. China has put Australia into diplomatic ‘deep freeze’. China speaks of ‘a growing lack of mutual trust’, accusing Australia …
Australia’s reaction to the idea of a China getting ‘a full military base’ in Vanuatu ranged from aghast to agog. Coming amid what’s already a big chill in Canberra–Beijing relations, the base brouhaha is a …
Australia’s embrace of the Indo-Pacific concept over the past five years drew mild interest from the region and curious discussion. The US adoption of the Indo-Pacific in both its national security strategy and national defence strategy …
Mahathir Mohamad thinks Australia might earn the right to join ASEAN. Indeed, Dr M. thinks Australia could be ‘entitled’ to ASEAN membership. Pause for a moment of amazement. This is Dr Mahathir, the Malaysian leader …