14 Oct 2021
Would a war over Taiwan be legal?
International law defines statehood and provides the rules of war, but ambiguities abound in the case of Taiwan.
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14 Oct 2021
AUKUS: Why Beijing didn’t go ballistic
China’s reaction was in words not deeds. Another high-profile case may have influenced its attitude. -
14 Oct 2021
Ethiopia’s crisis on the Blue Nile
Disputes over a new mega-dam foreshadow the importance of hydro-electric diplomacy in a water-scarce world. -
13 Oct 2021
An opening on the ICJ and an opportunity for renewal
Australia’s nominee for a vacant seat offers states a chance to strengthen and renew the Court at a critical juncture. -
13 Oct 2021
Vietnam had seemingly conquered Covid. Then Delta spread
The Southeast Asian nation is slowly emerging from months of lockdown but has plenty of challenges yet. -
13 Oct 2021
Zooming out of digital diplomacy
It’s time to think beyond the videoconference to allow countries to trust again. -
13 Oct 2021
Thailand’s military and human rights
A history of violence against troops and civilians is finally being recognised, and justice is creeping in. -
12 Oct 2021
Ressa’s prize for resilience underscores the need for press freedom
Telling a story in the Philippines can be deadly. But if a right to know is to recover, this marks a start. -
12 Oct 2021
Line in the sand: How sea-level rise is challenging international law
For island nations climate change poses not only a physical threat but a legal dilemma, too. -
12 Oct 2021
Australia should donate surplus vaccine to Indonesia
Helping a neighbour in need is far from mere charity but will protect Australia, too. -
12 Oct 2021
Australia-Korea minilateral: A potential win-win
Middle powers can reap the rewards of cooperation on security, cyber and democratic systems. -
11 Oct 2021
Subs: Australia’s reputation overboard
In Europe, and not only in France, the image of Australia has suffered a direct hit. -
11 Oct 2021
A rank index or a politicised process? The IMF and trouble at the top
The IMF chief rejects fudging China’s ranking on a flagship index. Her fate won’t change the institution’s character. -
11 Oct 2021
Biden has patience for the age
The President’s critics paint an old man struggling with detail but overlook the strength that comes from perseverance. -
8 Oct 2021
Germany and Europe: “Ampel” time for reform
The Merkel model may no longer be fit for purpose in a rapidly evolving European Union. -
8 Oct 2021
The Duterte double
The spectacle featuring Duterte and his daughter in the next Philippines presidential election comes as no surprise. -
8 Oct 2021
China and the future of the Antarctic mining ban
The continent’s resources are frozen until at least 2048. But a carbon-zero shift could see them left on ice far longer. -
7 Oct 2021
Economic diplomacy: Japan’s new PM joins the (supply) chain gang
New research shows Australia may be an export diversification role model. -
7 Oct 2021
Maseratis in PNG: stuck in reverse
It’s hard not to feel flabbergasted by what was a breakdown in decision-making. -
7 Oct 2021
Pacific Step-Up needs a Covid-era reboot
Australia must bolster its vaccine assistance with practical fixes, starting with energy and cold-storage solutions. -
6 Oct 2021
Chinese warplanes overhead Taiwan (or maybe not)
Multi-aircraft flights – some at night – signal a growing sophistication. But there are still limits. -
6 Oct 2021
With Biden’s lukewarm diplomacy, North Korea runs hot and cold
The vague North Korea policy from the White House has left all parties unsure what the United States hopes to achieve. -
6 Oct 2021
AUKUS: What happens if the Republicans play the Trump card?
A White House change of guard could mean Australia needs to reassess its values under a more nihilistic regime. -
5 Oct 2021
An aid to innovation in PNG’s informal economy
Foreign donors can support the emergence of sustainable enterprises and unlock a growth windfall for the nation. -
5 Oct 2021
In defence of AUKUS
This is not only about nuclear-powered submarines; it is about a strengthened US commitment to Australia. -
5 Oct 2021
Could India join the Five Eyes?
The benefits for New Delhi are no secret. But access to intelligence does come at a price. -
4 Oct 2021
Is China’s “age of ambition” over?
Xi Jinping tempers the expectations and aspirations of the country’s next generation. -
4 Oct 2021
The scope to negotiate with China on the CPTPP
It would be useful to have more cooperative economic ballast in relations, even as other things might deteriorate. -
1 Oct 2021
An arms control stocktake
Assessing the challenges ahead for the family of treaties governing nuclear weapons. -
1 Oct 2021
WTO dispute settlement: why Australia bothers
Australia had been an infrequent user of this tool. But the system is now more relevant than ever. -
30 Sep 2021
Meet Japan’s new PM
Asia’s oldest democracy looks for a steady hand on the tiller in a time of regional flux. -
30 Sep 2021
Indonesia: painted politics
A street art controversy shows government sensitivity over its Covid-19 response. It’s unlikely to be the last. -
30 Sep 2021
China’s declining Pacific aid presence
Beijing is becoming less generous. New data suggests 2018 was a high water mark for China’s aid to the region. -
29 Sep 2021
SSN vs SSK
Time on station or a numbers game? The answer depends on the mission for Australia’s submarine fleet. -
29 Sep 2021
Deciding Germany’s next direction in the world
Whoever ends up becoming chancellor next, expect the country’s foreign policy to stay on pretty much the same track. -
29 Sep 2021
AUKUS + Indonesia
Side-stepping any alignment with super powers allows Indonesia to reap the benefits of the new trilateral agreement. -
28 Sep 2021
Yemen: the search for leverage after Afghanistan
Islamists see advantage in a perceived reduction of America’s commitment to friends. Yemen could be the start. -
28 Sep 2021
AUKUS and the nuclear non-proliferation regime
Australia’s new trilateral agreement and its hard-won nuclear grand bargain. -
28 Sep 2021
Australia’s real leverage in China’s CPTTP bid
Beijing has handed Canberra an unexpected bargaining chip. The question is how to best use it? -
27 Sep 2021
AfPak’s back, alright
Pakistan needs to think carefully about its relationship with Afghanistan. The world is watching. -
27 Sep 2021
Dankeschön Frau Merkel
A former Australian ambassador to Germany reflects on the Chancellor’s significant impact in the Indo-Pacific. -
24 Sep 2021
Afghanistan: The Hazara dread
What the Taliban takeover means for one of the most persecuted peoples in the world. -
24 Sep 2021
Whipping the Covid-19 vaccine market into shape
The COVAX vaccine procurement facility has run a remarkable race, but needs stable funding for long-term success. -
24 Sep 2021
AUKUS: France’s strategic outcry
After the drama of recalled ambassadors in the wake of a new Indo-Pacific strategic deal, it’s time for dialogue. -
23 Sep 2021
Economic diplomacy: After AUKUS in trade, aid and technology
Commercial links may be China’s response to the submarine deal. -
23 Sep 2021
Can the China model be accommodated in the CPTPP?
A rules-based trading system is the bare minimum that Beijing must agree to if it wants to talk accession. -
23 Sep 2021
Africa and the Caribbean, together, seek global bargaining power
Countries so often historically at the mercy of strategic interests wants to shape their collective destiny. -
22 Sep 2021
By land or sea: Thailand perseveres with the Kra Canal
The fabled Thai waterway meant to bypass the Strait of Malacca has been mooted for centuries. Could its time have come? -
22 Sep 2021
Digital authoritarianism not just a China problem
Surveillance technologies are increasingly used to track and trace. New global regulations are needed, for all players. -
21 Sep 2021
AUKUS and the CPTPP: It’s all about China
Security deterrence is only one factor in the new and fast-moving geostrategic environment of the Indo-Pacific.