China's Olympic challenge
With the troubled Olympic Torch coming to Canberra next week, the Beijing Olympics and what it means for China will be centre stage in Australia. In 2004 and 2007, John Bowan wrote for the Lowy Institute about the challenges and opportunities the 2008 Olympic Games offer China. In his 2007 piece, John predicted that in the run-up the Games 'China's patience and political sophistication will be tested relentlessly by the Western media and the country's growing strength as a world power will weaken any disposition towards a sympathetic marking from world opinion.' John Bowan was the Manager for International Relations for the Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and worked as a consultant on the Beijing bid.
The papers can be read at:
http://www.lowyinstitute.org/Publication.asp?pid=685
http://www.lowyinstitute.org/Publication.asp?pid=159
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| America's future in Asia |
Wednesday Lunch at Lowy - Mr James Kelly presentation On 23 April at the Wednesday Lunch at Lowy, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, James A. Kelly, discussed how American policy towards Asia has changed on recent years.
His presentation can be heard here:
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| The future of China |
Lowy-Griffith partnership One of the biggest questions facing East Asia and Australian international policy is what is the future of China and how will it deal with its numerous domestic challenges. To help address this question, the Lowy Institute and Griffith University's Griffith...
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Wednesday Lunch at Lowy - Dr Malcolm Cook presentation
At the Wednesday Lunch at Lowy on 13th February, Dr Malcolm Cook discussed the results of recent elections in South Korea and Taiwan. Malcolm analysed whether South Korean and Taiwan voters are trying to return to the past and what this might mean for Northeast Asia's two most dangerous flashpoints, the Korean peninsula and the Taiwan strait, and Australia's vital interest in Northeast Asian stability.
The presentation can be heard here:
Korea and Taiwan - MP3 (20MB)
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Enmeshed: Australia and Southeast Asia's fisheries
Southeast Asia's oceans are fast running out of fish, putting the livelihoods of up to 100 million people at risk, leading to more illegal incursions into Australia's northern fisheries and putting the future of shared stocks between Australia and Southeast Asia at grave risk. A new Lowy Institute Paper entitled 'Enmeshed: Australia and Southeast Asia's Fisheries' by Dr Meryl J. Williams looks at the sources of this depletion and what can be done regionally to address it before it becomes too late.
Media in Australia and Southeast Asia have responded to Meryl's paper with the original Reuters story being picked up in the Philippines and Thailand (and Pakistan) while Singapore's Straits Times also ran a story on the paper.
See the Reuters story here
To order a hard copy of this publication click here
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Wednesday Lunch at Lowy - Dr Meryl Williams presentation
On 7 November at the Wednesday Lunch at Lowy, Dr Meryl Williams launched her new Lowy Institute Paper entitled 'Enmeshed: Australia and Southeast Asia's Fisheries'. Southeast Asia's oceans are fast running out of fish, putting the livelihoods of up to 100 million people at risk, leading to more illegal incursions into Australia's northern fisheries and putting the future of shared stocks between Australia and Southeast Asia at grave risk. Dr Meryl Williams looks at the sources of this depletion and what can be done regionally to address it before it becomes too late.
Her presentation is available here:
Enmeshed - MP3 (17MB)
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The future of Australia-Japan Relations
On 12 October, the Lowy Institute hosted a conference, featuring six Japanese speakers, on the future of Australia-Japan relations, on the back of the joint declaration on security cooperation and the commencement of free trade deal talks. Japan has been Australia's closest regional diplomatic ally and major export market for decades. The Institute received generous support for the conference from the Australia-Japan Foundation and the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Sydney. For more information on the content of the conference, please read the outcomes report.
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Wednesday Lunch at Lowy - Panellists' presentations
On 24 November a new Australian Government was elected under the leadership of Kevin Rudd, MP, a Chinese-speaking former diplomat with deep expertise in foreign policy.
At the Wednesday Lowy Lunch on 5 December a panel of analysts commented on prospective international policy under Mr Rudd's government.
The panellists included: Dr Malcolm Cook, Program Director, Asia & the Pacific; Dr Michael Fullilove, Program Director, Global Issues; and Rory Medcalf, Program Director International Security.
The presentations of the panellists, Dr Malcolm Cook, Dr Michael Fullilove and Rory Medcalf can be heard here:
Australia’s international policy under the Rudd Government - MP3 (21MB)
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Wednesday Lunch at Lowy - Dr Milton Osborne presentation
On 31 October at the Wednesday Lunch at Lowy, Dr Milton Osborne examined China's growing influence in Southeast Asia by looking at the water politics of the Salween and Mekong River systems that link China to continental Southeast Asia. Drawing on a Lowy Institute Perspective written earlier this year, Milton looked at the future of these two rivers and the challenges they pose for both China and Southeast Asia. The Perspective is available at: http://www.lowyinstitute.org/Publication.asp?pid=589
His presentation, 'Dams on the Salween, cargo boats on the Mekong', is available here:
Dams on the Salween, cargo boats on the Mekong - MP3 (18MB)
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Beijing 2008 Olympic Games
In a new Lowy Institute Analysis, John Bowan looks at the progress of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. On the technical side all looks good. On the political and public relations side, there are a number of growing challenges. These span from Taiwan's participation in the Torch Relay, to environmental concerns to growing criticism of Chinese foreign and domestic policies by international NGOs like Amnesty International. Next year's Olympics will put Beijing and China on the world stage The question is: where will the spotlight shine?
John Bowan has worked as a consultant on Beijing's successful bid for the Games and was Manager of International Relations for the Sydney Games from 1997 to 2000. In 2004, John wrote a longer piece on the international politics of the Beijing Games for the Lowy Institute.
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Distinguished Speaker Series - Mr Haruhiko Kuroda speech
On 13 September as part of our Distinguished Speaker Series, Mr Haruhiko Kuroda, the President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Chairperson of the ADB's Board of Directors, presented a lecture to the Lowy Institute. Headquartered in Manila, the ADB is the regional multilateral financial institution tasked with reducing poverty in the Asia Pacific region.
The title of Mr Kuroda's lecture was 'Economic prospects, challenges, and regional cooperation in Asia and the Pacific'. He discussed the economic success of developing Asia and outline the ADB's views on regional cooperation and integration.
His presentation can be heard here:
Economic prospects in Asia Pacific - MP3 (22MB)
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Wednesday Lunch at Lowy - Malcolm Cook and Mark Thirlwell presentations
At the Wednesday Lunch on 24 October, the Lowy Institute's Malcolm Cook and Mark Thirlwell discussed the economic future of the big five economies of Southeast Asia. A decade on from the financial crisis finds policymakers in the region's richer economies struggling with a series of important questions. Drawing on a recent research trip to the region, Malcolm and Mark considered some of the key economic policy challenges facing the region and assessed the nature of the response to date.
Their presentations are available here:
Stuck in the middle? The economic future of Southeast Asia - MP3 (18MB)
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Wednesday Lunch at Lowy - Dr Douglas Ramage presentation
At the Wednesday Lunch on 12 September, Dr Douglas Ramage led the discussion on the progress of Indonesia's political reforms triggered by the collapse of Suharto’s New Order.
In the last decade, Indonesian politics have been fundamentally transformed as the world's fourth most populous country has shifted from a one-party, centralised political order to a multi-party democracy with a very significant transfer of funds and power to local governments. He discussed how the political system is changing and what this means for government accountability and social and economic development.
Dr Douglas Ramage is the Asia Foundation's country representative in Indonesia where he directs the Foundation's governance, democracy, economic, and business policy reform programs.
His presentation can be heard here:
Indonesia's political reconstruction - MP3 (19MB)
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Australia and Indonesia: current problems, future prospects
Since the fall of President Suharto in 1998, Australia-Indonesia relations have been quite volatile with the Indonesian Ambassador to Australia being withdrawn briefly in 2006, the first time this has ever happened. Indonesia’s democratisation has brought the two neighbours’ political systems more in line with each other. Yet, this has not led to quieter times. Rather, suspicions in Indonesia over Australia's interests towards the provinces of Papua have deepened along with Australian worries about religious developments in Indonesia.
In his new Lowy Institute Paper, Professor Jamie Mackie, a very experienced Indonesia analyst who has researched the bilateral relationship for over five decades, evaluates the sources of this volatility and ways the two governments can counteract them and the potential problems if things stay as they are.
To order a hard copy of this publication click here.
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The Khmer Rouge Tribunal: an ambiguous good news story
In a new Lowy Institute Perspectives, Milton Osborne reviews the ambiguous history of the Khmer Rouge Tribunal and analyses its prospects and limitations.
He argues that the Cambodian government has been hesitant to see the tribunal come into being, a position shared by China, and that it will only prosecute a small number of those associated with the tyrannical Pol Pot regime. Even so, it will play some part in assuaging Cambodia's national pain.
Milton Osborne, a Visiting Fellow at the Lowy Institute and an Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Asian Studies at the Australian National University, is one of Australia's best-known Cambodia experts.
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The future of China-Australia relations
On 17-18 May, the Lowy Institute co-hosted a conference on the future of China-Australia relations with the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs and the Tianda Institute. The conference focused on the growing national and regional importance of this bilateral relationship based on economic complementarity but political and strategic differences. For more information on this conference, please read the outcomes report.
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Wednesday Lunch at Lowy - Dr Bates Gill presentation
On 5 September at the Wednesday Lunch at Lowy, Dr Bates Gill spoke on the topic of 'Asian regional architecture: the debate in Washington.' How is Washington looking at the future institutional architecture in Asia and how involved does the United States wish to be? In the US debate this question relates to the role of America's alliances, the value of formal multilateral structures versus 'coalitions of the willing', and the value of an inclusive trans-Pacific approach compared to a narrower Asia-based multilateralism. Dr Bates Gill surveyed these debates and looked ahead to America's likely future involvement in the region.
His presentation is available here:
Asian regional architecture - MP3 (19MB)
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Wednesday Lunch at Lowy - Dr Peter McCawley presentation
At the Wednesday Lunch at Lowy on 1 August Dr Peter McCawley led the discussion on why Indonesia has largely fallen off the international radar screen in recent years. Despite being the largest country in Southeast Asia, Indonesia receives comparatively little international media coverage beyond stories linked with terrorism and Indonesia is often left out of discussion of East Asia's major countries. Australia's robust public debate about Indonesia and Jakarta-Canberra relations is very much the exception and not the rule.
Dr Peter McCawley is the former Dean of the Asian Development Bank Institute and the former head of the Australian National University's Indonesia Project. He has worked on Indonesia and international development issues for close to four decades.
His presentation can be heard here:
Indonesia: punching below its weight? - MP3 (18MB)
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The Bangkok challenge
On 15 May, the Lowy Institute co-hosted with the George Institute for International Health a seminar on Thailand's recent decision to issue a compulsory licence for a patented heart drug. This decision has reignited the debate over the patent rights of innovating pharmaceutical companies and the growing public health care demands of poorer countries. It was the first time a developing country had used the WTO rules on compulsory licensing outside of the HIV/AIDS area. For more information on the seminar, please read the outcomes report.
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The relevance of APEC
Malcolm Cook, Program Director Asia & the Pacific, participated in an ABC Radio debate about the relevance of APEC. For more details please visit: http://www.abc.net.au/rn/australiatalks/stories/2007/1979836.htm
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The water politics of China and Southeast Asia II: Rivers, dams, cargo boats and the environment
In a new Lowy Institute Perspectives, Milton Osborne, a visiting fellow at the Institute, evaluates the social and economic impacts for the littoral states of the damming of the Salween River and the opening of the Mekong River to large cargo boats. Both of these processes are being driven by China's rapid economic growth and are integrating China more closely with continental Southeast Asia. Yet, as Milton's earlier work for the Institute on the Mekong emphasises, not all is smooth sailing and the regional politics of water management are bound to become more contentious.
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Distinguished Speaker Series - Dr Michael Green presentation
On 29 May, in a lecture in our Distinguished Speaker Series, Dr Michael Green from the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington discussed America's position in Asia and the challenges for the next Administration.
The presentation first looked at what the Bush administration's Asia policy is and what the approaching debates are in Washington, and beyond, over this policy, in the run-up to the US elections. Also, the presentation looked at the role of the US-Australia alliance in the present policy and what changes to this policy may mean for the alliance.
Dr Green's presentation can be heard here:
America's position in Asia - MP3 (24MB)
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China eyes security ties with Australia
Greg Earl reports that China has stepped up its level of concern about the recent security agreement between Japan and Australia, and quotes former senior Chinese military officer Gong Xianfu who spoke at a Lowy Institute seminar on the future of Australia-China relations on 18 May 2007.
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Howard brings home the goods from Japan trip
In an opinion piece in the Australian Financial Review, Malcolm Cook, Program Director, Asia Pacific, writes that improved trade should follow Australia's new security pact with Japan.
Australian Financial Review, 16 March 2007, p. 83
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Dealing with a Democratic Indonesia
In a new Lowy Institute Perspective entitled Dealing with a democratic Indonesia: the Yudhoyono Years, Ken Ward analyses how democratisation is changing Indonesia's political system, what challenges are facing democratic consolidation and how Canberra should respond. Ken is one of Australia's best Indonesia analysts and has observed the country for over forty years, both from inside and outside government.
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Surface calm
Malcolm Cook, Program Director Asia & the Pacific, was interviewed by Time magazine's Tokyo Bureau about the importance of Wen Jiabao's recent visit to Japan.
The article can be read at: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1609472,00.html
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Hope emerging for open trade in farm products
In an opinion piece that appeared in The Nation (Thailand) Dr Malcolm Cook argues that Japan's historicaly strong support for agricultural protectionism is weakening. The piece can be read here.
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The Pacific proxy
Graeme Dobell writes on the damage done as Beijing and Taipei battle for regional influence. This article draws from his paper for the Lowy Institute, entitled 'China and Taiwan in the South Pacific: diplomatic chess versus Pacific political rugby', available at: http://www.lowyinstitute.org/Publication.asp?pid=530
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Wednesday Lunch at Lowy - Lowy Institute Scholars presentation
At the Wednesday Lunch at Lowy on 7 February, the Lowy Institute's scholars discussed what we should be keeping an eye out for in international policy in 2007.
Dr Michael Fullilove, the Program Director for Global Issues, discussed global trends and the United States. Mark Thirlwell, the Program Director for the International Economy, discussed some of the big questions facing the global economy in 2007. Anthony Bubalo, Research Fellow, examined the year ahead in the Middle East. Dr Malcolm Cook, Program Director Asia & the Pacific, predicted what will surprise us in East Asia and the South Pacific.
Their presentations can be heard here:
The year ahead - 2007 - MP3 (20MB)
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Mindanao: a gamble worth taking
The immersion of foreign terrorists in the long-running Moro Islamic insurgency in the southern Philippines turned the Philippines into a front line in the regional war on terror. The direct links between terrorist safe havens in Mindanao and the Bali bombings of 2002 and 2005 brought this traumatically home to Australia. The decade-old peace process between the Philippine government and the largest insurgent group, the MILF, offers the best chance of permanently ending the insurgency and its links to regional terrorism.
A new Lowy Institute Paper by Dr Malcolm Cook and Dr Kit Collier analyses the prospects for peace in Mindanao and the threats facing the peace process. It also offers a number of policy recommendations for the involved foreign governments to better the odds that a sustainable peace deal can be struck and implemented.
To order a hard copy of this publication click here
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Wednesday Lunch at Lowy - Cook and Collier presentations
On 22 November at the Wednesday Lunch at Lowy, Dr Malcolm Cook and Dr Kit Collier presented their new Lowy Institute Paper, 'Mindanao: a gamble worth taking'. Every major terrorist attack in Southeast Asia in the last five years is linked to Mindanao and the safe havens its long-running Moro Islamic insurgency provide for regional terrorists.
The success of the ongoing peace process between the Philippine government and the major insurgent movement, the MILF, offers the best chance of ending the internal insurgency and permanently shutting down these safe havens. The Paper analyses the uncertain prospects for peace and the ways foreign governments can help improve them.
To order a hard copy of this publication click here
Their presentations are available here:
Mindanao - MP3 (22MB)
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The ASEAN Summit in Cebu, Philippines
On Friday 5 January, Dr Malcolm Cook was interviewed by Reuters' Philippine correspondent about the reasons behind the postponement of the ASEAN Summit and what can be expected from this meeting. The article can be read at: http://today.reuters.com/...
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Philippines needs help to clear out terrorists
In this opinion piece in The Canberra Times, Malcolm Cook writes on the long-running Moro Islamic insurgency that has provided havens in Mindanao for foreign terrorists.
The Canberra Times, 24 November 2006, p. 15
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For Japan, abductions cloud the issue
Dr Malcolm Cook was interviewed by Time Magazine's Tokyo Office on Prime Minister Abe's first months in office and Japan's position in the latest round of Six-Party Talks.
The article is available online here
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G-20 Summit
On Sunday 19 November, Dr Malcolm Cook was interviewed by John Cleary on the Sunday Night program on ABC Radio to discuss the G-20 Summit in Melbourne. Malcolm presented at the Make Poverty History conference on the G-20 in Melbourne on 16 November.
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Pitfalls of Papua: understanding the conflict and its place in Australia-Indonesia relations
In the latest Lowy Institute Paper entitled Pitfalls of Papua: understanding the conflict and its place in Australia-Indonesia relations, Dr Rodd McGibbon calls on the Australian government to engage more actively in the public debate in Australia over the Papua conflict. This debate so far has been dominated by local supporters of West Papuan self-determination who seriously undersell the importance for Australian security interests of strong, stable relations with Indonesia.
By carefully examining the history of Papua's incomplete integration into Indonesia and its role in Australia-Indonesia relations, this Paper critically evaluates the claims of the West Papua constituency in Australia and provides new ways to support the development of Papua and of stronger Australia-Indonesia relations.
To order a hard copy of this publication click here
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Wednesday Lunch at Lowy - Victor Mallet presentation
On 23 October at a special Monday edition of Wednesday Lunch at Lowy, Victor Mallet, Asia Editor for The Financial Times, spoke on the topic of 'China's hottest export: environmental destruction'.
His presentation can be heard here:
China's hottest export - MP3 (22MB)
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Wednesday Lunch at Lowy - Dr Rodd McGibbon presentation
On 11 October 2006 at the Wednesday Lunch at Lowy, the Institute launched a Lowy Institute Paper entitled Pitfalls of Papua: Understanding the Conflict and its Place in Australia-Indonesia Relations. The author is Dr Rodd McGibbon, one of Australia's best young Indonesia analysts with a background in government, development aid and academia.
The new Lowy Institute Paper boldly addresses these problems by carefully analysing the history of the Papuan conflict in Australia-Indonesia relations and the arguments of those in Australia advocating support for West Papuan self-determination. The paper calls on the government to actively engage in the public discussion of the Papua conflict and to focus more attention on the large strategic pay-offs of good relations with a stable and democratic Indonesia.
Dr McGibbon's presentation can be heard here;
Pitfalls of Papua - MP3 (19MB)
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A new diplomacy over Papua
On 7 October in the Weekend Australian, Paul Kelly wrote an extensive feature article on the latest Lowy Institute Paper, Pitfalls of Papua. Calling it one of the most muscular reports published by the Institute, Paul Kelly warns that the battle of ideas over Indonesia in Australia is heavily unbalanced in favour of negative views of our largest neighbour. Much more work needs to be done by the government and others to understand the new Indonesia and what the best way forward is for Papua and the role it plays in Australia-Indonesia relations.
The Weekend Australian, 7-8 October 2006, p. 18
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A boost for diplomacy in Asia?
Dr Malcolm Cook is cited in a Time story on the political fallout from North Korea's nuclear test. Malcolm argues that North Korea's actions have strengthened conservative forces in Japan while bringing Japan and China closer together tactically. For more see: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1544108,00.html
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Koizumi's legacy: Japan's new politics
In a Lowy Institute Analysis, Dr Malcolm Cook evaluates Prime Minister Koizumi's legacy for Japanese politics and international policy. Koizumi has rebuilt the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, moved the Japanese political system significantly to the right and reprioritised Japan's international policy. He has been Japan's most powerful, controversial and successful post-war prime minister.
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H.E. Mr Ban Ki-moon address
On Monday 14 August, H.E. Mr Ban Ki-moon, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea, addressed the Lowy Institute as part of the Distinguished Speaker Series. Mr Ban is also a leading candidate to become the next Secretary-General of the United Nations. His speech covered problems on the Korean peninsula, East Asian regionalism, and the links between the United Nations and Asia. It is available for download here.
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We're still very wary of Indonesia
In this op-ed, appearing in The Australian on 3 October, Malcolm Cook and Ivan Cook write that while Australians now feel comfortable with Asia, we are still wary about our closest big neighbour, Indonesia. Results from the Lowy Institute Poll 2006 reveal that Indonesians and Australians are worryingly ignorant of each other and also distrustful and suspicious. If we are to build a better relationship, as many respondents would like to, we should work harder to build first knowledge, then mutual understanding.
The Australian, 3 October 2006, p. 12
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Koizumi rewrote the rulers' rule book
In an opinion piece in the Australian Financial Review, Dr Malcolm Cook of the Lowy Institute argues that the Japanese political system has been remoulded under the leadership of retiring Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. Koizumi's legacy is a revitalised ruling party, a more conservative leaning opposition party and a more assertive Japan.
Australian Financial Review, 19 September 2006, p. 63
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Koizumi's political legacy
Dr Malcolm Cook, Program Director Asia & the Pacific, appeared on Late Night Live with Phillip Adams on 29 August discussing Prime Minister Koizumi’s political legacy. The interview can be downloaded at: http://www.abc.net.au/rn/latenightlive/stories/2006/1727262.htm
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The paramount power
In a new Lowy Institute Paper entitled The Paramount Power: China and the Countries of Southeast Asia, Dr Milton Osborne examines how China's relations with Southeast Asia have dramatically changed for the better in the last ten years. FTAs and strategic partnerships have replaced decades of mistrust and uncertainty. China is now the paramount power in Southeast Asia with significant soft power resources and regional goodwill. China's new role poses new challenges for Japan and the United States in the region and globally.
Dr Osborne is a Visiting Fellow at the Institute and one of Australia's leading experts on Southeast Asian history.
To order a hard copy of this publication click here.
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Japan's new leader
Dr Malcom Cook was interviewed by Time Magazine's Tokyo Bureau about the challenges facing Shinzo Abe if he succeeds Junichiro Koizumi as Prime Minister. The article, 'The Abe enigma', quoting Malcolm can be accessed at: http://www.time.com/time/asia/magazine/
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Australia-Indonesia Roundtable on the future of Australia-Indonesia relations
On 4 July, the Lowy Institute organised an expert roundtable on the future of Australia-Indonesia relations. The half-day event focused on three foundational political and social changes sweeping Indonesia – democratisation, decentralisation and Islamisation – and how these are affecting its political system, government and international policy. Democratisation and decentralisation together are vastly increasing the number of influential voices in Indonesia, both within the formal political system and in the wider community. Australian understanding of Indonesia needs to take these significant and ongoing changes into full consideration or risk having an incomplete and out-dated view of our closest Asian neighbour.
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The Philippines' sanctuaries of terror - Kit Collier and Malcolm Cook
In this opinion piece, Kit Collier and Malcolm Cook write on the problem of terrorist sanctuaries in nonbelligerent countries.
Korea Herald, 8 May 2006; Japan Times, 8 May 2006
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Japan: ripe for re-assessment
In this new Perspectives, Malcolm Cook, Program Director Asia & the Pacific at the Lowy Institute, and Huw McKay, Senior International Economist at Westpac, argue that the conventional wisdom on Japan is outdated. Japan is experiencing three powerful transformations that are well entrenched and explain Japan’s revived economy, more assertive political leaders, and tougher international policy.
Japanese corporate balance sheets have recovered boosting asset prices and credit demand. Political reforms have empowered individual political leaders and permitted Prime Minister Koizumi to be the most influential Japanese leader for decades. Japan’s international policy has responded by focusing more directly on the national interest and perceived threats to it. The new Japan creates new opportunities and challenges for Australia in the Asia Pacific. Ignoring these transformations risks missing the new opportunities and being surprised by the new challenges.
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Interview: Dr Malcolm Cook
On 23 June, Dr Malcolm Cook, Lowy Institute Program Director, Asia & the Pacific, featured in a story aired on ABC TV’s Asia Pacific Focus program speaking on Japan's more assertive foreign and security policy. Transcripts can be downloaded at: http://abcasiapacific.com/focus/
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Wednesday Lunch at Lowy - Dr Milton Osborne presentation
At the Wednesday Lunch at Lowy on 17 May 2006, the Institute launched the new Lowy Institute Paper, The Paramount Power: China and the Countries of Southeast Asia, by Dr Milton Osborne.
You can listen to Dr Osborne's presentation here:
The Paramount Power - MP3 48K (20MB)
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Dr Ma Ying-jeou
On 9 May, as part of the Lowy Institute's Distinguished Speaker Series, Dr Ma Ying-jeou presented the KMT party's positive view of the future of cross-strait relations. Dr Ma is the Mayor of Taipei and the Chairman of the KMT and is the front-runner for the 2008 presidential elections.
In his speech, Dr Ma committed to recommencing cross-strait political dialogue, removing barriers to cross-strait economic integration and opening up Taiwan's universities and colleges to students from the People's Republic of China.
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Taiwan's identity challenge
Dr Malcolm Cook, Program Director for Asia and the Pacific, recently published an article entitled 'Taiwan's identity crisis' in John Hopkins University's SAIS Review.
SAIS Review is a journal of international affairs produced twice yearly by The Johns Hopkins Foreign Policy Institute of the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in Washington, D.C.
The article analyses the tensions between Taiwan's uniquely dependent geo-strategic position and its nation-building quest. Taiwan society is differentiating itself from China at the same time that Taiwan's geo-strategic vulnerabilities encourage reunification with China.
SAIS Review, Vol. 25 (2), Summer-Fall 2005, pp. 83-92
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Balancing act: Taiwan's cross-strait challenge
In the last decade, Taiwan's society has changed rapidly in ways that are challenging the cross-strait status quo. Reunification with China is no longer an attractive political proposition, while Taiwan's vibrant democracy is organised around the question of how to promote Taiwan's autonomous identity and maintain good relations with its external supporters and tolerable relations with China.
China is growing increasingly worried that Taiwan is 'drifting away' from China's goal of peaceful reunification, leading China to put more pressure on countries to actively reaffirm their One China policies. Supporters of the cross-strait status quo, like Australia, now need to think how to incorporate Taiwan's social and political change into their cross-strait deliberations or risk being caught by surprise when cross-strait relations take a turn for the worse.
To order a hard copy of this publication click here
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Saving APEC
In 2007, Sydney will host the most important and expensive diplomatic meeting ever held in Australia, the APEC leaders' meeting. In 'How to Save APEC', the first of a new series of Lowy Institute Policy Briefs, Allan Gyngell and Malcolm Cook analyse APEC's problems and the competitive threats it faces.
The brief offers recommendations for necessary and achievable reforms that can help ensure that APEC does not sink into costly irrelevance. Allan Gyngell is the Institute's Executive Director and Malcolm Cook is the Program Director for Asia and the Pacific.
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