Southeast Asia’s democratic deficit

Southeast Asia accounts for sizeable chunks of global investment and manufacturing capacity; it straddles vital lines of trade and communication. Whether it is mobile phone parts or clothing and accessories, Southeast Asia is a vital …

Cyber wrap

Prime Minister Turnbull issued his national security statement in Parliament yesterday, again calling on cooperation on decryption from social media and messaging platforms when countering violent extremists. The topic is set to be the key …

The age of blowback terror

World powers have often been known to intervene, overtly and covertly, to overthrow other countries’ governments, install pliant regimes, and then prop up those regimes, even with military action. But, more often than not, what …

Shock at Trump, shrill at China

The shock of Donald Trump has prompted Australia to become shriller about China. Struck dumb by The Donald, Canberra can at least find its tongue about China. ‘Shock and awe’ is probably too grandiose a …

Happy birthday, QEII

To celebrate the Queen’s Birthday long weekend, Team Strategist is taking a day off today. But never fear, we’ll be back tomorrow with our normal schedule of considered analysis. Until then, to tide you over, we’d …

ASPI suggests

A joint investigation run by Four Corners and Fairfax into Chinese influence-buying in Australia aired on Monday night. It was a cracker, and if you missed it then we commend both the Four Corners episode …

Vietnam: Asia’s unexpected peace broker?

Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has just concluded a visit to the United States to meet the president and negotiate a way forward on trade and the South China Sea—two issues central to Vietnam. …

Marise Payne: lessons from D-Day

This week is the 73rd anniversary of perhaps the most complex joint and integrated military operation in history. Operation Overlord, the 1944 D-Day invasion of Europe, involved the largest amphibious armada ever seen, and brought …

The wickedness of China

The Chinese Communist Party exercises sovereignty over 1.4 billion people. In doing so, it suppresses free speech, regulates political activity and exercises a pervasive program of propaganda in education, the arts and the news media. …