Skip to main content
The Interpreter

Interpreter - Menu Links

  • Articles
  • Debates
  • Contributors
  • About

Published daily by the Lowy Institute

  • 2 Mar 2022
    • Australia
    • Bangladesh
    • Sri Lanka
    • Maldives

    Australia begins to step it up in the northeast Indian Ocean

    David Brewster
    Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives are keen in engage and will help plug a gap in Australia’s Indo Pacific strategy.
  • 1 Mar 2022
    • Defence & Security
    • United States
    • Australia

    What if Trump wins again?

    John Quiggin
    It would be folly to ignore the threat to US democracy. Australia needs to prepare against the possibility.
  • 25 Feb 2022
    • Nuclear Non-Proliferation, Arms Control and Disarmament
    • Australia
    • Russia
    • Ukraine

    Keeping Australian uranium out of Russian hands – and bombs

    Daniel Flitton
    After MH17 was shot down the Abbott government banned yellowcake sales to Russia. But then struck a deal with Ukraine…
  • 25 Feb 2022
    • Defence & Security
    • Australia
    • China

    China’s grey zone tactics amount to far more than just laser games

    Peter Layton
    A Chinese warship’s use of a laser on an Australian surveillance plane was no accident but purposeful aggression.
  • 24 Feb 2022
    • Global Economy
    • Public Opinion
    • United States
    • Trade
    • Asean
    • Australia
    • China
    • Russia
    • Ukraine

    Economic diplomacy: Slow dividends for Australia from ASEAN spending

    Greg Earl
    Amid the Ukraine sanctions showdown, an Indian trade deal looms as a pre-election win for the Morrison government.
  • 23 Feb 2022
    • Defence & Security
    • Australia
    • China
    • Russia
    • Ukraine

    Russia-Ukraine: Lessons for Australia’s defence

    Sam Roggeveen
    Great powers seek spheres of influence – but there are limits.
  • 23 Feb 2022
    • Sustainability
    • Australia
    • Climate change
    • Environment

    Transforming Australian diplomacy for climate leadership

    Melissa Conley Tyler
    Practical measures will foster enduring regional ties beyond the immediate challenge of responding to global warming.
  • 22 Feb 2022
    • Australia in the World
    • Australia

    A global Australia needs to be a confident Australia

    Allan Behm
    As a nation, we need to probe the boundaries and content of what passes for “received wisdom”.
  • 21 Feb 2022
    • Australia in the World
    • Australia

    Is bipartisanship on national security a good thing?

    Richard Maude
    The current era requires patient diplomacy and policy that survives a short election cycle. But not without debate.
  • 16 Feb 2022
    • Australia
    • India

    Beyond the Quad: Fostering stronger India-Australia ties

    Anuttama Banerji
    A common concern about China cannot be the lone factor for enduring engagement.
  • 10 Feb 2022
    • Asia
    • Global Economy
    • Australia's Economy
    • Australia

    Economic diplomacy: Mission critical as Australia’s own BRI gains pace

    Greg Earl
    Australia’s new embrace of South Korea in minerals, defence, and trade is well-timed as the country catches up to Japan.
  • 10 Feb 2022
    • Australia
    • Myanmar
    • Human rights

    Will Australia use its amended sanctions act against Myanmar?

    Jessica Collins
    Coordinated international pressure on the coup leaders is urgently needed to stave off a growing humanitarian crisis.
  • 9 Feb 2022
    • Defence & Security
    • United States
    • Australia
    • China
    • India
    • Japan

    Delivering promises will show steel in Quad

    Indrani Bagchi
    Presidents Xi and Putin make a deliberate show of solidarity, but Quad partners should focus on boosting defence ties.
  • 25 Jan 2022
    • Defence & Security
    • Australia
    • United Kingdom

    AUKMIN shows the UK is a world away from Australia

    Susannah Patton
    London’s global focus on malign authoritarian actors makes clear thinking and prioritisation impossible.
  • 25 Jan 2022
    • Australia
    • China
    • Solomon Islands

    Solomon Islands: cops bearing gifts

    Gordon Peake , Graeme Smith
    Australia and China offer the archipelago nation a grab bag of policing options that often miss the mark.
  • 24 Jan 2022
    • Australia
    • China
    • United Kingdom

    The D10 is dead, long live the … Network of Liberty?

    Mercedes Page
    Not explicitly focussing on a grouping of democracies is smart and includes more countries engaged in pushback on China.
  • 18 Jan 2022
    • Trade
    • Sustainability
    • Australia
    • Indonesia

    Australia has a solution to Indonesia’s soaring food prices

    Kyle Springer
    As Indonesia takes the G20 presidency solving the country’s food security crisis should be top of the agenda.
  • 17 Jan 2022
    • Australia
    • South Korea

    South Korea’s embrace of Australia goes beyond China

    Chris Khatouki
    Seoul confronts a panoply of regional challenges – not least that from the other big trading partner in Asia.
  • 14 Jan 2022
    • Europe
    • Australia
    • Migration
    • Coronavirus

    Novak Djokovic – a symbol for anti-vaxxers?

    Nikola Mikovic
    The ruling to deport the tennis ace could hamper his career but transform him into a different type of star.
  • 14 Jan 2022
    • Global Economy
    • Australia
    • Climate change
    • Environment

    Australia should build its green infrastructure presence

    James Bowen
    The region is taking an increasingly dim view of efforts seeking to protect the fossil fuel trade.
  • 11 Jan 2022
    • Europe
    • Australia
    • Migration
    • Coronavirus

    When no shots are heard around the world

    Warwick McFadyen
    The saga of Novak Djokovic’s visa has galvanised global attention – with a result that still hangs in the balance.
  • 11 Jan 2022
    • Defence & Security
    • Australia
    • Japan

    Japan and Australia ties blossom

    Tan Ming Hui
    A new defence pact marks a stronger partnership for countries driven together by shared values and regional dynamics.
  • 29 Dec 2021
    • Defence & Security
    • United States
    • Nuclear Non-Proliferation, Arms Control and Disarmament
    • Australian Navy
    • Australia
    • United Kingdom

    An AUKUS surprise – Best of The Interpreter 2021

    The Interpreter
    An extraordinary decision put Australia at the centre of regional defence debates.
  • 28 Dec 2021
    • China's Economy
    • Australia's Economy
    • Australia
    • China

    China’s economic punishment – Best of The Interpreter 2021

    The Interpreter
    Beijing sought to make Australia pay as a diplomatic freeze deepened. But the sanction didn’t entirely go to plan.
  • 23 Dec 2021
    • Defence & Security
    • United States
    • South China Sea
    • Australia
    • China
    • Taiwan

    Myths that stir trouble in the South China Sea

    John Quiggin
    A major shipping route, yes, but vital? False claims about the value of these waters only make diplomacy harder.
  • 22 Dec 2021
    • Defence & Security
    • United States
    • Australia
    • India
    • United Kingdom

    India remains divided about AUKUS

    Abhijit Singh
    Something about the new Australia, UK and US deal suggests it could detract from the value and usefulness of the Quad.
  • 21 Dec 2021
    • Global Economy
    • Trade
    • Australia's Economy
    • Australia

    Economic diplomacy: Retro shopping beats the supply chain crisis

    Greg Earl
    WWW Santa beware. The gift trade is still subject to the old-school padded tromp of shoe leather.
  • 17 Dec 2021
    • Australia
    • Solomon Islands

    Solomons strife demands a development re-think

    Edward Cavanough
    Australia’s security-driven approach is regularly counterproductive.
  • 16 Dec 2021
    • Australia
    • South Korea

    Australia’s “China” blinders on South Korea

    Jeffrey Robertson
    By focusing on the elephant, Australia risks misunderstanding the room.
  • 14 Dec 2021
    • Defence & Security
    • Diplomacy
    • United States
    • Australia
    • United Kingdom

    Why isn’t Australia putting diplomacy first?

    Melissa Conley Tyler
    Canberra is out of step with its key allies with one of the most potent tools its international arsenal.
  • 13 Dec 2021
    • Australia
    • Review
    • Coronavirus

    The Interpreter’s 2021 favourites: reconnecting with music and art

    Jennifer Hsu
    Australia might have been locked off from the world in Covid times, but culture knows no bounds.
  • 13 Dec 2021
    • Defence & Security
    • Australia

    Changing my mind about AUKUS

    Sam Roggeveen
    What I said then, and what I think now, about the nuclear-powered subs announcement that caught everyone by surprise.
  • 7 Dec 2021
    • Defence & Security
    • Australia
    • China

    Taming the “grey zone”

    Megan Price
    It has become something of a catch-all phrase. But if everything is a grey zone tactic, to what extent is this helpful?
  • 7 Dec 2021
    • Australia
    • India

    In 2021, interest in Australian education has waned for Indians

    Anna Boucher , Elisa Choy
    Singled out by travel bans, exploited at work and a sense local standards are slipping has turned Indian students off.
  • 2 Dec 2021
    • Global Economy
    • United States
    • Trade
    • WTO
    • Australia
    • China

    Economic diplomacy: Free trade vs economic resilience

    Greg Earl
    From Chinese iPhones to university classrooms, trade in services is being redefined.
  • 1 Dec 2021
    • Asia
    • United States
    • Australia

    Kurt Campbell on what America is for, “rather than what we’re against”

    Sasha Fegan
    The White House “Asia tsar” spoke with Lowy Institute Executive Director Michael Fullilove on the shape of the region.
  • 30 Nov 2021
    • Australia
    • Coronavirus

    Border closures should not be Australia’s default response

    Regina Jefferies
    The Omicron variant of Covid-19 is a risk to manage but not at the expense of leaving people in limbo.
  • 30 Nov 2021
    • Australia
    • Solomon Islands
    • Sex and Gender

    Solomon Islands deployment: Australia must meet obligations to women

    Nicole George
    The risks to local women’s security are well understood. Following plans already in place should be a priority.
  • 26 Nov 2021
    • Australia
    • Antarctica

    Opportunity lost: Australia’s Antarctic aerodrome cancelled

    Claire Young
    If the Antarctic Treaty System does fail, this decision may be regretted. The challenge now is to ensure it does not.
  • 24 Nov 2021
    • Australia
    • China
    • Taiwan

    Paul Keating may be the “Grand Appeaser”, but is he wrong?

    Simon Cotton
    The lessons of history are many and few are simple. Empty threats can be just as damaging to a country’s reputation.
  • 18 Nov 2021
    • Pacific Islands
    • Australia

    Economic diplomacy: Remaking the Pacific house

    Greg Earl
    Two new studies provide the building plans for Australia’s regional infrastructure boom.
  • 16 Nov 2021
    • Australia
    • Migration

    A good idea gone nowhere? Diaspora policy in Australia

    Andrew Rosser
    Politics has made it hard to keep outward migration/diaspora engagement on the agenda.
  • 16 Nov 2021
    • Australia
    • China

    Cautiously optimistic: Chinese students keen to get back to Australia

    Anna Boucher , Elisa Choy
    A data analysis of internet sources from within mainland China shows positive sentiment towards education in Australia.
  • 15 Nov 2021
    • United States
    • Australia
    • China
    • Southeast Asia
    • Singapore

    Is Australia relevant?

    Susannah Patton
    Neighbours in Southeast Asia may not be “forced to choose” but rather “left behind”.
  • 12 Nov 2021
    • Australia
    • Space exploration

    It’s not rocket science, Australia needs a stronger space strategy

    Tristan Moss
    The contested and congested nature of space means this vital arena cannot be approached in a fragmented fashion.
  • 12 Nov 2021
    • Australia

    Australia’s aid ambition should rise with its geo-political status

    Dane Moores
    Canberra should embrace expectations to play a prominent role in helping solve the big global challenges.
  • 11 Nov 2021
    • United States
    • Australia
    • Australia-United States Relations

    Australia and the American far-right conspiracy

    Erin Hurley
    Covid tyranny? Could the fevered imaginings of the post-2016 Trump era end up colouring the US-Australia relationship?
  • 10 Nov 2021
    • Sustainability
    • Australia
    • Indonesia

    Australia-Indonesia: burn the boats

    Aristyo Rizka Darmawan
    Protecting ocean resources can sometimes require extreme measures from which there is no way back.
  • 9 Nov 2021
    • Diplomacy
    • Australia

    Do Comprehensive Strategic Partnerships matter?

    Henry Storey
    Scott Morrison is an enthusiast. But Australia’s one with China proved little more than the proverbial “scrap of paper”.
  • 8 Nov 2021
    • Defence & Security
    • United States
    • Australia
    • Indonesia
    • United Kingdom

    Indonesia-Australia: Deeper divide lies beneath AUKUS submarine rift

    Benjamin Herscovitch , Gatra Priyandita
    Indonesia is committed to “standing in the middle” between the United States and China and using ASEAN as a buffer.
Pagination
  • Previous page ‹‹
  • …
  • Page 7
  • Page 8
  • Page 9
  • Page 10
  • Current page 11
  • Page 12
  • Page 13
  • Page 14
  • Page 15
  • …
  • Next page ››

Stay informed with the latest commentary and analysis on international events from experts at the Lowy Institute and around the world.

Register

The Interpreter features in-depth analysis & expert commentary on the latest international events, published daily by the Lowy Institute.

© Copyright 2025 Lowy Institute

  • Debates
  • Contributors
  • Articles
  • About
  • Terms of Use
  • Log In
  • My bookmarks