Programs & Projects

The North Asia Program

The China and East Asia Program

The China and East Asia Program conducts research on the politics and foreign policy of China and its immediate neighbours in Northeast Asia: Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan and the Korean peninsula. The program is renowned for its particular focus on China’s domestic politics and how this helps to shape its external behaviour. From 2020, the Institute’s extensive research on Southeast Asia – including Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, and Myanmar – is now incorporated in a dedicated Southeast Asia Program. Each Program also commissions work by other scholars on the broader region. To complement their written research, Lowy Institute experts hold a robust series of dialogues and events on the politics of the region, independently and in partnership with other organisations.

Photo: Jung Yeon-Je-Pool/Getty Images

Experts
Latest publications
News and media
Behind the News: Inside China Global Television Network
Reports
Behind the News: Inside China Global Television Network
Can China’s television network be an effective soft power tool?
China’s Economic Choices
Analyses
China’s Economic Choices
China’s economic growth has fallen to its slowest rate since 1990, and this deceleration looks set to continue unless China implements the kinds of deep reforms behind the…
Foreign and Security Policy in the new Malaysia
Analyses
Foreign and Security Policy in the new Malaysia
Malaysia’s foreign and security policy faces myriad challenges, but not much is likely to change under Mahathir Mohamad’s ‘New Malaysia’ framework.
Politics in Indonesia: Resilient elections, defective democracy
Analyses
Politics in Indonesia: Resilient elections, defective democracy
The pressures on Indonesian democracy are not likely to abate under a second-term Jokowi or a Prabowo presidency
‘New’ Malaysia: Four key challenges in the near term
Analyses
‘New’ Malaysia: Four key challenges in the near term
In the aftermath of Malaysia’s momentous regime change, the new government faces a number of challenges to implementing wholesale political reform.
Reinforcing Indonesia–Australia defence relations: The case for maritime recalibration
Analyses
Reinforcing Indonesia–Australia defence relations: The case for maritime recalibration
A maritime realignment of Australia–Indonesia defence relations could shape the broader Indo-Pacific security architecture and provide an additional strategic hedge for…
Blocking CKI from buying Australian pipelines would be a win for Beijing
Commentary
Blocking CKI from buying Australian pipelines would be a win for Beijing
Originally published in Australian Financial Review on 21 September 2018 Richard McGregor
Mahathir, China and neo-colonialism
Commentary
Mahathir, China and neo-colonialism
Originally published in Nikkei Asian Review.Richard McGregor
ASEAN–Australia relations: The suitable status quo
Analyses
ASEAN–Australia relations: The suitable status quo
Australia’s dialogue partner relationship with ASEAN is more suitable for Australian interests in Southeast Asia than the idea of ASEAN membership.
Getting Singapore in shape: Economic challenges and how to meet them
Analyses
Getting Singapore in shape: Economic challenges and how to meet them
Without bold adjustments, Singapore’s extraordinary economic performance may prove difficult to sustain.
Australian Financial Review
18 May 2023
Australian Financial Review
17 May 2023
Australian Financial Review
10 May 2023
Australian Financial Review
24 April 2023
Australian Financial Review
14 April 2023
BFM Malaysia
12 April 2023
Australian Financial Review
25 April 2024
Philippine Star
29 March 2023
The Wall Street Journal
12 March 2023
Agence France-Presse
11 March 2023
ABC Radio National Breakfast
6 March 2023