Asia
What younger voters in India think about the country’s foreign policy
In India’s election this year, younger voters aged 18-35 will comprise the largest voting bloc, in what is expected to amount to the highest youth participation ever. Reaching…
Open for business: North Korea welcomes back visitors
After three years of pandemic lockdowns, North Korea is reopening its doors to foreigners. The welcome mat was put out in March 2023, when the country welcomed new Chinese…
Prabowo’s challenge: Cabinet continuity
Indonesia’s unofficial election result put the Prabowo Subianto–Gibran Rakabuming Raka ticket ahead sufficiently to avoid a second-round showdown in the presidential race. Yet…
Japan in the shadow of China
On a trip to Japan last month, I was struck by the surreal combination of stubborn continuity and laboured change. Compared to all major Asian capitals, Tokyo seems broadly…
Curbing foreign voices continues as India’s election looms
As India gears up for its next general elections to be held in April and May, a concerning trend of curbing foreign voices has emerged, reflecting a broader erosion of democratic…
Prabowo is finally president in Indonesia – now what?
“Third time’s the charm,” screamed Indonesian and foreign media after Prabowo Subianto finally clinched victory. Twice Prabowo had lost to Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, yet Prabowo was…
Dying to work abroad: Why Nepalese migrants are fighting other people’s wars
Last month, on the sidelines of the Non-Aligned Movement Summit, Nepal appealed to Russia “not to recruit Nepalese nationals into the country’s army and to help repatriate those…
Go big or go home: Australia should invest at scale in Southeast Asia’s energy transition
Australia is looking to lift its engagement with Southeast Asia. Australia’s Special Envoy to ASEAN, Nicholas Moore, last year set out a new economic strategy to deliver on that…
Indonesians abroad exercise their right to vote
Millions of Indonesians are heading to the polls today to choose their next leader, and those residing in Australia have already delivered their democratic right. About 35,000…
How to fix Japan
Book review: The Contest for Japan's Economic Future: Entrepreneurs vs Corporate Giants by Richard Katz (OUP, 2023)
There is no advanced economy more in need of fixing than…