Articles by: "Tom Hanson"
Australia and China: a view from the US

Three years ago, I created a minor diplomatic furore when I opined, during a live interview broadcast on the ABC’s Radio National Breakfast, that the time was fast approaching when Australia might be required to …

Australia in the South China Sea: time to act, not react

The rapidly changing strategic landscape in the South China Sea threatens to marginalise Australia unless the government takes positive action now to remain a relevant and influential player in the region’s strategic calculus. Positive action …

After the White Paper conference: what now?

One obvious conclusion to be drawn from ASPI’s Defence White Paper conference last week is the need for Australia’s Department of Defence to take steps toward the establishment of a single agency to promote, coordinate, …

An underappreciated strategic option in North Asia

Continued Chinese maritime ‘gray zone’ aggression in the South China Sea (as well as further afield) requires that Australia make strategic choices now to avoid being militarily dominated or economically marginalised by Beijing in the …

Upping the ante in the South China Sea?

The US Navy’s USS John C. Stennis carrier strike group has recently concluded a five-day ‘routine patrol’ in the South China Sea. Accompanied by several US vessels based in Japan, at first glance it appears …

What to do about China’s missile provocation?

Last week’s revelation by Fox News that China has placed two batteries of its HQ-9 air defence missile system on Woody Island in the Paracels has ignited arguments over possible responses within and beyond the …