Over the past year, the Australian government has pulled few punches in urging the US to show economic leadership in the Indo-Pacific. Most recently Australia’s foreign minister Penny Wong, while stressing the US’s essential role …
The European Parliament elections are still a year away, but political parties across the EU have already shifted to campaign mode. While the election will undoubtedly feature a wide range of views on climate change, …
Media freedom is an essential pillar of democracy. In Pacific island countries, this pillar is under threat from financial and capacity constraints. Democratic partners—which believe in the importance of a strong, independent media—must do more …
The central guidance in the defence strategic review is the introduction of the concept of deterrence by denial. I and my co-author Richard Brabin-Smith argued for acceptance of this concept in May 2021 in an …
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will soon host his counterparts from India, Japan and the US for the most significant leaders’ gathering in Australia since the Cold War. It is a powerful gesture that these four …
In 2022, US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, despite threats of retaliation from Beijing. ASPI’s Samantha Hoffman speaks to Nadège Rolland, a distinguished fellow at the National Bureau of Asian Research, about …
Lim Jock Hoi, ASEAN’s former secretary-general, has said the organisation’s ability to function effectively relies on whether its members can align their national interests with regional goals. This can be difficult given its diversity, but …
Soon after she became foreign minister in May last year, Penny Wong went on a self-described listening tour of the Pacific. ‘I’m very happy to be here again, to listen … to the new government …
Sea state Iran seized a US-bound oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz last week, alleging that it had fled the scene after colliding with an Iranian vessel. Western media sources reported that Iran’s actions …
To the dismay of immunologists, virologists and public-health experts, governments are done with learning the lessons of Covid-19. Policymakers around the world, faced with a cost-of-living crisis, are baulking at spending enormous amounts of money …
We live in a world where geopolitical stability relies largely on deterrence. But how can we prove that deterrence works? Consider the ongoing war in Europe. Beginning in December 2021, US President Joe Biden warned …
Since Thailand’s military coup in 2014, the country has been plagued by human-rights violations and abuse of power, severely damaging its international reputation and economic prospects. Without a change of direction, Thailand’s future looks bleak. …
A biological revolution is underway in global manufacturing. Products produced from genetic engineering and biomanufacturing techniques are replacing many chemical, industrial and farm-based products. These include biological therapies, alternative proteins, plant-based oils, bioplastics and super …
While the defence strategic review shows Australia is focused on building capability through AUKUS, its declassified version fails to note a significant threat to regional security—Myanmar. Myanmar’s junta is a threat to regional stability that …
All arms of Defence are under pressure to make savings to help fund the nuclear-powered submarine (SSN) program while dealing with impact of inflation. The total resourcing for Defence over the three years to 2025-26 …
This year’s presidential and parliamentary elections on 14 May mark one of the most critical moments for Turkey in the past 100 years. Turkey is currently dealing with the aftermath of the devastating February earthquakes …
With a renewed five-year mandate as General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, Xi Jinping has re-emerged on the international stage. His revamped foreign policy team is headed by the recently …
Deepening strategic and defence cooperation with India is one of Australia’s regional priorities, as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s recent visit to India clearly demonstrated. As we seek to build our cooperation in ways that benefit …
As the US, Taiwan and Australia struggle to assemble forces to face the challenge of a rapidly arming China, Japan is planning to discard good equipment that could be kept in service. It proposes to …
The recent unclassified version of the defence strategic review (DSR) highlights Australia’s focus on acquiring cutting-edge technology for its military. Acquiring expensive, complex fighting systems is essential to ensure Australian forces are not technologically outmatched …