In a world of tumult, there is something quietly reassuring about the predictable summitry of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Recent government statements represent a major conciliatory effort by France.

A Harris administration is unlikely to reverse America’s eroding military advantage over China.

Much commentary about China and the US election has suggested Beijing prefers Trump. In fact, the opposite might be the case.

Many Southeast Asian countries already see the United States as a more distant and less reliable partner.

If Donald Trump can’t achieve a quick solution in Ukraine, he could well turn on Putin and increase US support to Ukraine.

The undersea cable industry is left to tackle the challenges, while policymakers engage in national security power plays.

Pacific Island countries want to hear more from the Democratic nominee about how she will support the region.

Donald Trump’s policies are a recipe for higher global inflation, greater fragmentation, and more inequality.

Pundits weaving stories of power transition in the Indo-Pacific should rely on robust data to flesh out the narrative.

Harris is largely a blank slate on China policy. She is likely to stick to Biden policy positions and instincts, which means relations will remain rocky.

Ideological and policy tribalism is a feature of every presidency. The new Trump team will be no different.

There are three reasons why China’s missile test is a serious challenge to New Zealand’s interests.

Judging by the lack of major policy announcements from the Harris campaign, her administration is likely to largely maintain the Biden trajectory.

Trump disparages the liberal international order. Australia may need to serve in its bodyguard.

A US government leak to a newspaper exposes a Chinese secret and reveals the new world of intelligence.

Antimicrobial resistance will test global responses to health security, just as Covid-19 did.

Acting on climate change will inescapably involve sacrifices for the collective good.

Questions of the group’s future after the leaders’ summit are misguided.

Talk of easing import restrictions raises questions about Beijing’s motivations at this time.

Substantive engagement with the world’s next powerhouse region won’t carry big cost but will earn major returns.

We have an opportunity to develop a social media approach for young people that is worthy of global export.

Populist movements are redefining local politics, and this carries international implications.

With Taiwanese chips integral to the US economy, the would-be vice president is promoting his own brand of restrained nationalism.

The latest Asia Power Index has Pyongyang pegged as Moscow’s best buddy…for now.

Decentralised power projects – rather than expensive grid networks – are the focus of a new phase in the International Solar Alliance.

Despite its small size, the Southeast Asian nation should not be underestimated.

Focus on the United States might well reduce our bandwidth for what is going on in other regions.

Newly-elected president Anura Kumara Dissanayake struck a chord with a nation frustrated and crying out for a brighter future.

Some findings of the latest Asia Power Index controvert conventional wisdom.

A practical agenda amounts to a fine aim. But such details don’t demand the scrutiny of busy leaders.

Restoring US primacy is not in Asia’s interests but preserving a power balance with China is.

Diminished parliamentary productivity has ramifications not only for the progress of legislation but the well-being of the nation.

From QR codes to mobile wallets, innovative tech solutions can help the region transition its financial ecosystem.

The much-hyped TAPI gas line faces too many blockages to be realistic.

From a stunted democracy, to a human capital deficit, and too much reliance on China, Prabowo Subianto has been handed a curate’s egg, writes Greg Earl for his “Economic diplomacy” column from the ANU Indonesia Update.

Australia’s economic prospects and soft power may become the collateral damage of a narrow domestic debate.

The implications of this attack stretch far beyond Hezbollah to future threats.

A gender-inclusive trade agenda will help create better jobs and unlock greater economic potential.

Deepfakes can carry a pernicious cost to electoral integrity, trust in institutions and democratic processes.

The art of listening is an essential way to shape our future.

The power of carrots and sticks in the world of geoeconomics.

Negotiations for a new global pact have hit obstacles, reflecting many of the problems facing the international system.

The “salami slice” approach to island building in the South China Sea has worked well for China. The world risks seeing that same approach repeated in international law.

A shift in language is an easy start to broaden the appeal of the grouping to regional partners.

South Korea must be careful not to politicise high-level defections from the North.

An innovative national education system that assists migrants in their native language has raised questions about integration.

Re-evaluating concerns about the potential military uses of space technology on the white continent.

As human activity intensifies beyond Earth, there is a need to identify exactly what “space sustainability” means.