Pick the anomaly in this list of what Australia does and desires in the South Pacific: Australia wants a leadership role in the South Pacific, a fundamental foreign policy interest explicitly stated in 1901 in …
Articles by: "Graeme Dobell"
The decision of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation to end shortwave broadcasts to the South Pacific is a serious blunder, based on a shrinking, insular view of ABC responsibilities. The ABC should be embarrassed that 31 …
How does an independent Australia make its way in Asia? And can Australia have an Asian future while holding tight to the alliance with its great and powerful friend? The ‘great and powerful’ reference speaks …
In 2003, Solomon Islands stared into a national abyss—confronting ethnic conflict and state failure. The Melanesian nation appealed for help, prompting the largest, longest and most ambitious security effort ever mounted by the Pacific Islands …
Two visits to Australia by the Chinese leader Li Keqiang illustrate the China sweet-and-sour. The just-completed trip by Premier Li for the annual leaders’ summit was all about the sweet. Just the fact of the …
The descriptor ‘Asia’ attempts to identify so much that it delivers sparse meaning. So making a series of big bets on Asia will help define the many tasks and pressures confronting the Foreign Policy White …
The Foreign Policy White Paper to be produced this year must place big bets in Asia. The multi-purpose bets must imagine expanded interests and seek insurance against a protectionist US president who’s sceptical of alliances. In our …
Australia’s strategic hope is to hold tight to what it has with the US while seeking new chances in Asia. To use the language of poker: hold, not fold on America, bet big Asia. At …
Over five decades, Australia has expanded its defence and security guarantee to stretch from Timor-Leste through Papua New Guinea to all of the South Pacific. Today Australia offers its strategic weight, proximity and resources to …
Australia’s dread of France in the South Pacific in the 20th century has slowly turned into a new desire—that France stay and play and help pay. As the quintessential status quo power in the South …
The argument stretches over decades: can France stay in the South Pacific and, if so, on what terms? Being in the Pacific may serve the glory of France, but can France also act as …
A striking duality drove Australia’s thinking about France in the 20th century. Expressed as a chant it went: In Europe, Good! In the Pacific, Bad! When Australia turns its gaze to Europe it sees France …