China last week celebrated the 70th anniversary of the defeat of Japan in what could only be described as an ostentatious display of military power and glory. Every aspect of the event was planned down to …
If we wait for Australia and India to develop a common regional vision, we’ll wait forever. Some things will never happen. At least, though, the astigmatism that’s long afflicted the Oz–India ‘views’ of each other …
Today marks the 14th anniversary of the devastating attacks that rocked the United States, and raised public consciousness of the threat of modern terrorism. Reflecting on the milestone, Bruce Hoffman at Politico states that just …
Military engagement can’t be devised or judged in isolation from its strategic objectives. It is tactical—a means to a strategic or political end. And this places a necessarily weighty responsibility on decision makers to have …
Recent news that the US is considering targeted sanctions against China for economic cyber espionage is unsurprising. However, any sanctions imposed are unlikely to discourage future Chinese cyber espionage, but instead will only serve to …
‘Things are seldom what they seem’—so wrote the librettist W.S. Gilbert in HMS Pinafore. The current refugee crisis in Europe looks like a humanitarian tragedy on a large scale, the biggest in Europe since WWII. …
For the past couple of years I’ve been keeping Strategist readers updated with the status of USAF planning for procurement of the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter at each pentagon budget cycle. (See here for 2013 …
The Beat Dismantling people smuggling networks With the current number of refugees arriving in Europe unseen since the end of WWII, European police are using social media to piece together people smuggling networks, utilising similar …
The beheading of 82-year-old archaeologist Khaled al-Asaad by Islamic State (IS) was met with universal disgust. Asaad worked as the chief archaeologist of the Roman temples, tombs and theatre at Palmyra for over 50 years …
Hugh White’s equally ‘spirited’ response to my critique raises several questions in my mind. Unsurprisingly, I differ with him on several points. I accept—and have said elsewhere—that, unlike on land, the defence has no inherent …
The Japanese Government formally adopted its new Cybersecurity Strategy last Friday. The Strategy outlines the directions of Japanese cybersecurity policy as the country approaches the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics in Tokyo, and faces the challenges …
Over the last few days I have found myself reflecting on the policy challenges of disrupting the cross-border trade in new psychoactive substances (NPS), which are manufactured to copy the user experiences of illicit drugs. …
As Australia prepares to expand its air war against the Islamic State (ISIS) to Syria, it’s interesting to note that the first anniversary of the beginning of the bombing campaign against ISIS has passed virtually …
Over the past few days, it’s become clear that the Australian response to the Syrian refugee crisis is inadequate. In 2014, Australia offered 4,500 spaces within the existing refugee and humanitarian programs. On Sunday, Prime …
Sea State Last week five Chinese Navy ships came within 12 nautical miles of the US mainland, sailing inside American territorial waters as they passed through the Bering Sea, coinciding with President Obama’s trip to …
Germany’s bid for the SEA 1000 Future Submarine project could reasonably be described as coming from a safe pair of hands. Since 1960, ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) through its Howaldwerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) subsidiary has delivered …
The rise of Islamic State jihadists in Iraq and Syria continues to shock and horrify us. We are all familiar with the crimes against humanity: the videotaped beheadings, the grisly torture, the ritualized rape, the …
The link between crime and terrorism was discussed during a seminar at the National Security Summit that we attended recently. The link has attracted broad attention overseas (such as here), but only limited discussion in …
While Albert Palazzo’s response to ASPI’s Beyond 2017: The Australian Defence Force and Amphibious Warfare adds another dimension to the amphibious debate in Australia, it highlights another quite interesting characteristic within Defence. Language creates a …
The differences between Australia and India will be bridged by systemic needs and policy problems, not by leadership will. Instead of leadership chemistry, the drivers can be the convergence of strategic interests and the great …