Amid the debate last week over the merits of travelling to Washington for the annual AUSMIN talks and donning face masks during a global pandemic, the defence and foreign ministers of Australia and the United …
At the precipice of a new cold war, China has more instruments of power than it has ever had, but challenges and missteps mean that the world’s democratic countries still have the upper hand—at least …
As Australia’s defence establishment moves on from a perception of space capability as simply an adjunct to terrestrial forces, the 2020 defence strategic update and its companion force structure plan have formally recognised the domain’s …
Malaysia’s attack on journalists employs old methods with nods to current fashion. Clinging to power with a razor-thin majority, the government that snatched office in March brandishes a dictatorial bludgeon to batter the media. The …
US–China, US–China—the commentary goes on and on. Who will be dominant? Must rising powers always go to war with established powers? Can the US assemble an Indo-Pacific alliance to balance China? Might the US agree …
One of the world’s most experienced political leaders, diplomats and peace negotiators has warned that in the face of growing global discord, the democracies must support each other and build systems to communicate clearly with …
One of the theories floated about China’s recent cyber espionage campaign against Australia is that it’s being used to punish us for banning Huawei from our future 5G networks and for introducing laws to combat foreign …
In this episode, ASPI’s Michael Shoebridge and Robert Glasser discuss the global Covid-19 situation, the successful and failing responses, and the challenges ahead. Next, senior analyst Kelsey Munro talks with researcher Nathan Ruser about his …
The accelerating velocity and seriousness of the strategic challenges confronting Australia have forced political leaders to think very hard indeed about the US alliance and about relations with China. These challenges involve, as often noted, …
Australia’s Foreign Minister Marise Payne and Defence Minister Linda Reynolds pulled off a magic trick at this week’s AUSMIN meeting. Australian decisions and directions—on military power, digital technology, misinformation and military supply chains—set the scene …
As expected, the European Parliament has torn into the European Council’s recently agreed budget and pandemic-response package. The €1.8 trillion price tag and proposed cuts to development funding, including science and research, have predictably met …
Past communiqués from Australia–US Ministerial Consultations often contained pages on international developments and few ‘action items’ shaping what the US and Australia really do. Wednesday’s joint statement reverses that pattern by offering a long list of …
The 2020 defence strategic update has been a welcome first step for many who see Australia’s place in the world and our region become increasingly insecure. Beijing’s recent demonstration of its willingness to leverage its …
Indonesia appreciated being comprehensively briefed on Australia’s recent defence strategic update before it was announced, says seasoned diplomat and politician Dr Dino Patti Djalal. The former deputy foreign minister, who now heads the Foreign Policy …
Nuclear-weapon-free zones (NWFZs) deepen and extend the scope of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty and embed the non-nuclear-weapon status of NPT states parties in additional treaty-based arrangements. This is why several NPT review conferences have repeatedly …
The idea that Australia faces a tension between its security alliance with the United States and its economic relationship with China overlooks the importance of its economic relationship with the United States. While China far …
It’s great that the Australia–US relationship, particularly its foreign, defence and security aspects, is getting attention with Foreign Minister Marise Payne and Defence Minister Linda Reynold’s trip to Washington even in the midst of the …
As the federal government prepares to hand down its pandemic-delayed national budget in October, it will be looking for areas in which spending can be cut. When the pressure’s been on in the past, the …
Over several weeks, viral videos have appeared on social media showing individuals flouting public health recommendations and legal requirements and actively attempting to provoke confrontations with staff (or in some cases even police officers) responsible …
There’s concern in Papua New Guinea that allowing Australia and the United States, or China, to build a regional naval base on Manus Island could draw PNG into a future conflict, says the island nation’s …