6 May 2026
The Iran war’s toll on the Indo-Pacific
Countries that can least afford the energy, food, fiscal and political pressure are the most exposed.
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21 Apr 2026
Amending Australia’s export gas regime does not undermine gas for fuel negotiations
Japan’s diplomatic pushback on a gas export tax is predictable and should be read in context – existing supply contracts already neutralise the main risk. -
14 Apr 2026
What the Hormuz crisis reveals about Australia’s Indonesian sea lanes
Laws alone will not keep Australia’s vital trading routes open when it matters. -
17 Mar 2026
Beware the long reach of the Iran war in Asia’s food systems
Disruption to fertiliser supply could lock in a food price hike across South and Southeast Asia. -
16 Mar 2026
In the mirror of the future
Assessing a world of shifting alliances and nervous great powers. -
29 Jan 2026
Conflict prevention or conflict avoidance in Australia’s foreign policy
The greatest risk for the Indo-Pacific comes from fragmented peace efforts backed by competing geopolitical powers. -
18 Dec 2025
Washington’s China consensus is breaking
Two factors are forcing a re-think: Trump's diplomacy, and the realisation that China's growth cannot be halted. -
16 Dec 2025
Vietnam’s second Doi Moi: Growth, bottlenecks, and a role for Australia
Vietnam has announced a new round of sweeping reforms to propel the nation to high-income status. But long-term boldness is meeting short-term inertia. -
3 Dec 2025
Rethinking the Indo-Pacific as a single ocean system
The waters that connect the region matter more than the distances between its shores, and 2026 will test that principle. -
1 Dec 2025
Australians risk becoming “strangers in our own region”
A parliamentary inquiry confronts decades of decline in language learning and cultural knowledge of the region. -
25 Nov 2025
Southeast Asian manufacturing: No longer immune from geopolitics
The region’s industrial sector must adapt in a new climate of supply-chain weaponisation. -
21 Nov 2025
Quiet strength? Regional friends pitch for issues-based coalitions
From the Quad to trilateral arrangements, purpose-driven partnerships are delivering where multilateral institutions struggle. -
13 Nov 2025
Where the Philippines might lead ASEAN
Will Manila shake off its “deputy sheriff” badge to become the anchor of a new coalition in Southeast Asia? -
28 Oct 2025
America shouldn’t pivot to Asia
More US military investment in Asia has escalated tensions and isn’t necessary for US or allied interests. -
22 Oct 2025
Geopolitics and making sense of the NEWS: North, East, West, South
More than geography, the coordinates of a state are borne of ideology, history and power perceptions. -
15 Oct 2025
Is this the Asian Century?
A new book that cuts through hype, ignores moods and intellectual trends, and focuses on the epochal forces shaping the region. -
8 Oct 2025
Europe notches an early win in Indonesian free trade deal
EU trade with Southeast Asia has been undercooked, but a recent agreement augurs well for others in the pipeline. -
3 Oct 2025
America’s EV plan needs Southeast Asia more than it admits
Unless the US wants to pay more and wait longer, it should secure trusted capacity from non-Chinese supply chains. -
1 Oct 2025
Australian conflict prevention – from statements to strategy?
Australian tunnel vision on potential China–US conflict may blind us to pressing risks closer to home. -
1 Oct 2025
How Trump’s $14 billion TikTok tug-of-war affects Asia
With Western nations cracking down on the wildly popular app, does Beijing have its sights set on the developing markets? -
30 Sep 2025
Time for an ASEAN agreement on lethal AI
The use of autonomous weapons in the region’s flashpoints could narrow the window for human intervention to seconds. -
22 Sep 2025
Complacent nation: Australia and the Asian Century
Decades of ambition have left us with a nation still unable to speak the language of our neighbours. -
11 Sep 2025
How uncertainty about US strategy complicates Europe’s approach to the Indo-Pacific
Washington’s posture could challenge European interests and planning. -
10 Sep 2025
America’s “Department of War” puts Asia’s peace at risk
The US military rebrand exposes uncomfortable truths about American power that could reshape regional relationships. -
9 Sep 2025
The messy truth: Australia’s reputation in Southeast Asia
When it comes to soft power, a little more humility and a lot less swagger would work in Canberra’s favour. -
4 Sep 2025
Does Australia’s US alliance doom our Asian relationships to fail?
In fact, there’s a strong case to be made that Australia’s relationships with regional countries have never been better. -
13 Aug 2025
Can Australia rally the Indo-Pacific allies?
Trump's unpredictable foreign policy opens the door for energetic Australian diplomacy to strengthen regional alignment. -
7 Aug 2025
How Burkina Faso’s strongman became the Indo-Pacific’s unlikely hero – and other tales of disinformation
Digital disciples are spreading false narratives in an effort to exploit anti-Western sentiment across the region. -
23 Jul 2025
Japan wants to offload six destroyers, but should the Philippines take them?
With Manila’s military modernisation occurring at breakneck speed, the infrastructure struggle will be real. -
22 Jul 2025
Climate disasters drain Southeast Asia’s shrinking aid budgets
The 2025 Lowy Institute Southeast Asia Aid Map reveals relief spending has soared while prevention investment stagnates, forcing hard choices for development partners. -
16 Jul 2025
If infrastructure is the new oil, Australia is in a winning position
By investing in Southeast Asia’s sustainable development, Australia can help shape regional growth and prosperity. -
19 Jun 2025
No Trump photo-op for the PM but a reminder where Australia’s future lies
The cancelled G7 meeting is a timely reminder that Australia’s most promising opportunities lie in deeper engagement with our region. -
10 Jun 2025
The logic of neutrality in the Indo-Pacific
Regional governments use deliberate ambiguity to extract benefits from both United States and China while avoiding costly commitments to either. -
3 Jun 2025
The tariff war that’s accelerating Asia’s trade transformation
As the deadline for suspension looms, regional economies are looking to patch the vulnerabilities of regional economic architecture. -
2 Jun 2025
No one’s world: The Global South is navigating a post-American order
Global influence no longer flows solely from dominant capitals – and power itself is changing shape. -
29 May 2025
The wrong time for a collective defence pact in Asia
Trump’s unpredictability is already an obstacle. And diverse interests make bilateral flexibility better than rigid military blocs. -
29 May 2025
Pete Hegseth’s impossible mission to reassure Asian allies at Shangri-La
Whatever the Defence Secretary might say, it’s the actions of his boss that catch most attention. -
28 May 2025
Why Northeast Asia risks repeating Europe’s 19th-century mistakes
Compelling strategic lessons lie in institutional decay, alliance uncertainty, and deterrence gaps that mirror historical dangers. -
15 Apr 2025
Asia without America? History shows Australia can be confident shaping regional security
The Five Power Defence Arrangements makes for a case in point. -
3 Apr 2025
Trump’s tariffs: Australia hit with a stick while our region was clobbered
The entire export-driven development model of Southeast Asia is now at serious risk. -
31 Mar 2025
Yes, some of China’s educated youth just asserted sovereignty over Australia
Online platforms reveal a fervent nationalism that has repercussions for the future of the region. -
20 Mar 2025
Southeast Asia’s critical role as a green industrial leader
The region’s industrial transformation remains the key for long-term economic prosperity – and the world’s climate goals. -
12 Mar 2025
Artificial intelligence and sustainability in the Asia-Pacific
With the right strategies, AI and clean energy can work in harmony, driving progress without compromising the planet. -
7 Mar 2025
Getting dads to care: A key to equality in Asia
Declining birth rates, growing elderly populations and notable gender gaps in workforce participation are just some reasons for reform across the region. -
28 Jan 2025
ASEAN’s new developmental divide
The admission of Timor-Leste will recall quarter-century-old unease about the development gap within the association. -
3 Jan 2025
Australia and ASEAN: A storied history
After 50 years of dialogue, the relationship has matured on economic, political, and strategic interests. -
27 Dec 2024
The rise and endurance of minilaterals in the Indo-Pacific
Will small groupings of nations last? Bet on self-interest. -
24 Dec 2024
Beyond borders, beyond loss: How regional cooperation can safeguard Asia’s biodiversity
The threats to migratory species is urgent and can only be tackled together. -
17 Dec 2024
Indo-Pacific: A blueprint for democracy in the digital age
From political activism to cyberattacks, the rise of technology is changing the face of regional engagement. -
29 Nov 2024
As traditional “Anglo” international education destinations falter, Asia-Pacific countries look closer to home
Chinese students are largely driving the surge in international students choosing universities across the region.