In a recent article for the Washington Post on the militarisation of Australia’s north, the Minister for Defence, Richard Marles, said: “We’re working together [with the United States] to deter future conflict and to provide for the collective security of the region in which we live.” The defence preparations against China that Marles describes do Continue reading »
Asia
How comfy the throne, how rapid the change; a humble Republican from a riverbank shack is plotting to be King of Indonesia surrounded by his regal family of political courtiers. Young Indonesians have had enough of outgoing President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s blatant nepotism, the rise of dynastic politics and a return of the oligarchs. Furious Continue reading »
Malaysia’s 2025 ASEAN Chairmanship is an opportunity to provide clear regional leadership amid shifting geopolitics, but the country’s strategic goals remain uncertain despite a growing perception of closer alignment with China. Malaysia should focus on enhancing ASEAN centrality, balancing local sentiment against global interests, and sustaining ties with all major regional powers including the US, Continue reading »
Ordinary New Zealanders and Australians have little idea about the momentous changes coming our way. For a couple of centuries we have been outposts of a Western empire that is losing its dominance of the region. Instead of having open national discussions about how our countries should respond to the rise of China, India and Continue reading »
If the interim government formed after the departure of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina holds a fair election, the people will find out if political Islam is a dispensation they wish to vote for. [This article was written on 7 August, four days before Skeikh Hasina’s remarks about what she believes is US involvement in her Continue reading »
One would’ve had to have been living in a cave not to have been aware of the recent street violence in the United Kingdom. For those of us who lived through the riots here in Hong Kong in 2019 and 2020, there was an extreme feeling of déjà vu as we watched attacks on police, Continue reading »
In Asian media this week: Another Shinawatra becomes PM in Thailand. Plus: Kishida ‘lost people’s trust’; Big losses as Asian Muslims shun KFC over Gaza; Manila reshapes its superpower ties; Gen Z revolution in Bangladesh; Racism a factor in Olympics row. The lawfare that afflicts government and politics in Thailand continues, with the Constitutional Court Continue reading »
Fear of China is often used to explain NATO’s desire to expand into Asia. The headline reason masks a longing to restore a romanticised empire. Continue reading »
ABC foreign affairs reporter Stephen Dziedzic’s ’exclusive’ claim that “Australia and Indonesia are on the brink of sealing an upgraded defence pact” hasn’t been refuted by Defence so is probably right. This is a distressing idea practically and morally for a nation that claims to respect the rules of warfare and human rights. That’s us. Continue reading »
Progressive party scuttled as protection of the monarchy overrides the verdict of the voters. A peculiarly Thai political ritual is playing out in the kingdom this week. In Act 1, the courts disband a popular party that is seen as a threat to the monarchy and ban its leaders from politics. In Act 2, the Continue reading »