Richard McGregor

Senior Fellow for East Asia
Areas of expertise

China’s political system and the workings and structure of the communist party; China’s foreign relations, with an emphasis on ties with Japan, the two Koreas, and Southeast Asia; Australia’s relations with Asia.

Richard McGregor
Biography
Publications
News and media

Richard McGregor is Senior Fellow for East Asia at the Lowy Institute, Australia’s premier foreign policy think tank, in Sydney.

Richard is a former Beijing and Washington bureau chief for the Financial Times and the author of numerous books on East Asia.

His most recent book, Xi Jinping: The Backlash, was published by Penguin Australia as a Lowy Institute Paper in August 2019. His book on Sino-Japanese relations, Asia’s Reckoning: China, Japan and the Fate of U.S. Power in the Pacific Century (Penguin Books, 2017), was called “shrewd and knowing” by the Wall Street Journal and the “best book of the year” by the Literary Review in the United Kingdom. In late 2018, it won the Prime Minister of Australia’s Literary Award for Non-Fiction. His book, The Party (Penguin Books, 2010), on the inner-workings of the Chinese Communist Party, was translated into seven languages and chosen by the Asia Society and Mainichi Shimbun in Japan as their book of the year.

Richard is a Senior Associate (Non-resident) at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in the United States. He was also a visiting scholar at the Wilson Center and George Washington University in Washington DC from 2014-2016.

Australia can teach the UK a lesson in Chinese wrath
Commentary
Australia can teach the UK a lesson in Chinese wrath
London may have to learn the hard way that it cannot have its cake and eat it with Beijing. Originally published in the Financial Times.
What Europe needs to know about Xi Jinping
Commentary
What Europe needs to know about Xi Jinping
The Chinese president has no rivals or likely successors and fervently believes in China’s unstoppable rise. Originally published in Politico.
Lowy Institute Conversations: Natasha Kassam and Jane Perlez on Australia and China
Podcasts
Lowy Institute Conversations: Natasha Kassam and Jane Perlez on Australia and China
In this episode of Lowy Institute Conversations, Senior Fellow Richard McGregor sits down with Natasha Kassam and Jane Perlez to discuss new Lowy Institute research relating to…
Harness collective clout of allies to counter China’s power
Commentary
Harness collective clout of allies to counter China’s power
Unless like-minded nations bind together to push back in unison, Beijing will keep singling out countries for punishment at little cost to its interest. Originally published in…
Why Biden wants to be more Trump than Obama on China
Commentary
Why Biden wants to be more Trump than Obama on China
Beijing should expect more policy continuity from Washington. Originally published in Nikkei Asia.
Australia’s politicians must get to know the neighbours
Commentary
Australia’s politicians must get to know the neighbours
When other democracies are watching see how we manage China, it is odd that Australia is looking so far away for inspiration. Originally published in The Australian Financial…
On China, Australia is left counting the cost
Commentary
On China, Australia is left counting the cost
The Australian government’s approach to its biggest foreign policy challenge is not working. There needs to be less conflict and more statecraft. Originally published in the…
Fareed Zakaria on Australia’s “opportunity” between the US and China
Fareed Zakaria on Australia’s “opportunity” between the US and China
Inspiration from a tiny giant in Southeast Asia might help Australia find a way through multiple diplomatic obstacles.
China sends a message with Australian crackdown
Commentary
China sends a message with Australian crackdown
Pressure by Beijing offers a glimpse of the road map for a more illiberal order. Originally published in the Financial Times.
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