Asia and Pacific
North Korea as a 'mafia state'
In January 2016, North Korea tested a fourth nuclear device. In the scramble to respond, analysts once again debated the nature of the North Korean regime. Much of the heat of…
Digital diplomacy links (defence special): White Paper, Army blogging, honeytraps and more
The launch of the Defence White Paper was a hot mess of hashtags: Prime Minister Turnbull (#DWP2016), Defence Minister Payne (#2016DWP), the Department of Defence (…
Digital Diplomacy links: Facebook leaders, Army brigades, social media mobility and more
As Australian digital diplomacy strives to catch up to rest of the world, these monthly links highlight the most creative and effective ways countries are leveraging the internet…
Pacific Island links: Russian arms in Fiji, Vanuatu's election result, PNG drought and more
By Alastair Davis, an intern in the Lowy Institute's Melanesia Program.
The shipment of Russian arms received by Fiji continues to intrigue analysts. This piece by Anna Powles…
Japan and China wrestle for ascendancy in Southeast Asia's railway Great Game
Luang Namtha in northern Laos is a sleepy wildlife reserve, popular with backpackers. In future it may become a vital geopolitical pivot point. Here the northern corridor to the…
Pacific Island Links: Vanuatu election, PNG finances, a 'Facebook for fieldworkers', and more
By Alastair Davis, an intern with the Lowy Institute's Melanesia program
The election campaign is underway in Vanuatu and the Melanesian Spearhead Group and the Commonwealth have…
Why China's next aircraft carrier will be based on Soviet blueprints
China has at last formally acknowledged that it has a new aircraft carrier under construction, the first to be built in China and the second in the People's Liberation Army-Navy…
Pacific links: Fiji's budget, Ok Tedi restructure, renewables, holiday reading and more
Matthew Dornan takes a look at Fiji’s 2016 budget. He notes that while the overall economic situation in Fiji is sound, the major policy reversals and long list of ad hoc…
How Australia can use economic diplomacy to get closer to Asia
There is more to be said about Martin Parkinson's speech on US economic diplomacy, and in particular how Australian attention has been diverted from the challenge of developing…
Analyses
Russia’s Asian rebalance
In this Lowy Institute Analysis, Dr Matthew Sussex surveys the security, energy, and regional engagement implications of Russia’s pivot to Asia and argues that despite numerous…