Australian official thought regarding the defence of Australia has been more independently minded than is portrayed by certain academics and commentators who, often not possessing a deep understanding of the history of Australian strategy, have …
The Strategist on: "Strategist Essay"
Anzac Day signifies tragedy. It speaks to futility and loss, the death of young Australians in their prime. We try to make sense of this ‘senseless loss’ by honouring their courage and extolling Anzac values. We …
Since the end of World War II, Australia has enjoyed an ideologically simple security environment: all its core allies have been liberal democracies, and all its foes have been illiberal. The United States, the architect …
Debate over China’s role in Australia’s security has become polarised, with critics retreating to a familiar refrain: China is our largest trading partner, so any security concerns are exaggerated. That argument is not just incomplete; …
My parents fled Iran after the revolution as political dissidents, but exile did not end their fight. The struggle for freedom followed them across continents and became part of my childhood. There are understandably mixed …
The current debate on Defence funding, sparked by our 29 May report The Cost of Defence: ASPI Defence budget brief 2025–2026, and a subsequent US request for Australia to spend more, has swung between a …
Beijing deployed a naval task group to the waters around Australia for three related reasons. First, to demonstrate the reach and potency of Chinese sea power and to put Australia on notice that it is …
China has perfected a system that can no longer see itself; its only remaining mirror is the world beyond its borders. For most of its modern history, the Chinese Communist Party has reformed only when …
Picture yourself on a battlefield. It’s cold, the snow covers the ground, yet the sun shines brightly overhead. You gaze over the landscape and at your fellow soldiers. The prospects for the future seem grim. …
Oft-repeated, because it is true, Australia faces the most complex strategic circumstances since World War II. Instability and near-term risk of major armed conflict in our region are real. The circumnavigation of Australia by Chinese …
On the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, there is renewed focus on nuclear weapons in international security. China and other nuclear-armed states within Australia’s extended region are expanding their arsenals, with little …
Look beyond the so-called stabilisation of diplomatic ties between Australia and China. Look beyond Beijing’s lifting of trade bans and its ending of the freeze on ministerial dialogue that began in 2020. China’s unfair trade …