Japanese ministers Minoru Kihara and Yoko Kamikawa, second and third from left in front row, pose for a photo on Sept. 5 next to their Australian counterparts, Penny Wong and Richard Marles. (Photo by Rurika Imahashi)
International relations

Australia and Japan launch Pacific digital plan, boost defense ties

Foreign and defense ministers meet amid 'serious concerns' over China

5 September 2024
Pacific Islands Forum leaders pose in Nuku'alofa, Tonga, on Aug. 28. (Photo by Shaun Turton)
International relations

Pacific leaders back Australia-funded regional policing plan

Initiative follows Beijing's efforts to boost its security presence in region

28 August 2024
Australian Senator David Fawcett shakes hands with Lai Ching-te in Taiwan in this photo dated May 27. (Photo from David Fawcett's Facebook page)
Interview

Australian senator upholds motion denying China's U.N. claim to Taiwan

David Fawcett highlights economic risk of potential Chinese move to change status quo

27 August 2024
Indonesia's President-elect Prabowo Subianto greets Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese ahead of a meeting at Parliament House in Canberra, on Aug. 20. (AAP Image via Reuters)
Defense

Australia and Indonesia seal treaty-level defense pact

Agreement allows militaries to operate from each other's countries

20 August 2024
The Asia Zero Emission Community will promote the switch to hydrogen fuel to cut carbon emissions. (Photo by Shinya Sawai)
Climate Change

Japan to coordinate decarbonization plans with ASEAN, Australia

Emissions-intensive power, transport, industrial sectors targeted in policy road map

17 August 2024
Kiribati President Taneti Maamau speaks during a plenary session at the COP28 U.N. Climate Summit, Saturday, December 9, 2023, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Indo-Pacific

Kiribati election poses test for China-friendly leader

Critics say pivot to Beijing hasn't solved Pacific island nation's core issues

14 August 2024
Australia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense Richard Marles speaks during a meeting with Canada's Minister of National Defense Bill Blair, not seen, in Vancouver, Canada on Aug. 8. (Photo by The Canadian Press via AP) 
Defense

Australian defense chief defends updated military deal with U.S., U.K.

Biden letter says agreement will allow nuclear material to be given to Australia

9 August 2024
From left: Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin hold a news conference at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, on Aug. 6.
Indo-Pacific

Australia and U.S. boost defense ties, push missile collaboration

U.S military to increase rotational presence in Australia

7 August 2024
From left, Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken pose as they attend a Quad foreign ministers' meeting in Tokyo on July 29.  
International relations

Quad countries agree to expand Indo-Pacific cyber, maritime initiatives

Australia, India, Japan, U.S. 'seriously concerned' about East and South China seas

29 July 2024
Members of the World Trade Organization released an agreement on e-commerce rules following negotiations that began in 2017.
Trade

WTO members reach digital trade deal to ban tariffs on data

Proposed e-commerce rules also cover cybersecurity and regulatory transparency

27 July 2024
Coal accounted for 50% of Australia's energy mix in 2022. 
Energy

Australia debates building first nuclear plant ahead of 2025 election

Opposition party pushes alternative to renewables as public opinion shifts

26 July 2024
Pacific Islands leaders gathered in Tokyo for PALM10 to discuss various issues, from security to climate change. (Photo by Yuki Kohara)
Interview

PALM10: Pacific leaders discuss China, trade, and climate change

Triennial gathering provides chance for Japan to deepen ties with strategic region

21 July 2024
Tuvalu Prime Minister Feleti Teo tells Nikkei Asia on July 18 that he is aware that pressure from China is "forthcoming." (Photo by Takuya Fujisawa)
Interview

Tuvalu welcomes subsea cable but worries about possible China cyberattack

Japan to provide equipment to counter 'forthcoming' threat

19 July 2024
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw speaks about the arrest of an Australian Army private and her husband, who are accused of spying for Russia, in Canberra on July 12. (Australian Federal Police via AP)
International relations

Australia arrests couple in alleged Russia-linked espionage plot

Authorities warn of more foreign agents seeking to infiltrate public bodies

12 July 2024
Indo-Pacific partners will launch new joint projects on Ukraine, AI, disinformation and cybersecurity.
Indo-Pacific

NATO to launch 4 projects with Indo-Pacific partners, including AI and cyber

Global 'arsenal of democracy' will help allies adapt to shifting security landscape

10 July 2024
A U.S. soldier inspects a Patriot missile defense battery near Warsaw in 2015. Precision munitions and air defense are seen as key areas of need as NATO looks to expand defense industrial cooperation. (Agencja Gazeta via Reuters)
Indo-Pacific

NATO to expand defense industrial cooperation to Indo-Pacific

Alliance aims to tap production capacity of South Korea, Japan and Australia

9 July 2024
A Switchblade drone strikes a target at sea. (Australian Department of Defence)
Defense

Australia to purchase U.S.-made 'killer drones'

Adoption of armed drones by Canberra has been slow, expert says

8 July 2024
NATO is forming a closer relationship with four key Indo-Pacific nations to counter perceived security threats from China and Russia.  
Indo-Pacific

NATO to up security links with Japan, South Korea, Australia, NZ

Atlantic military alliance will issue joint cooperation document next week

4 July 2024
The Australian government has contracted with Amazon Web Services to provide "top-secret" cloud storage, citing the U.S. company's capabilities. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by AP)
Defense

Australia taps Amazon for $1.3bn 'top secret' cloud storage system

Local arm of U.S tech giant to run data centers for military and intelligence

4 July 2024
Australia's earnings from metallurgical coal, used as a fuel for steelmaking, are forecast to fall in the next 12 months due to weaker prices.
Commodities

China tensions with West a risk for resource exports, Australia warns

Further dips in value expected as U.S., Europe look to reshore manufacturing

2 July 2024
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele, left, speaks as Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese listens in Canberra on June 26. Manele is on his first official overseas trip since taking office in May.
International relations

Solomon Islands PM visits Australia in first foreign trip

Leaders discuss security, policing as geopolitical tension in Pacific heats up

26 June 2024
Australian Ambassador to Japan Justin Hayhurst speaks during an interview with Nikkei on June 17 in Tokyo. (Photo by Manami Yamada)
Interview

Australia's new rules 'facilitate' Japan investment, envoy says

Canberra streamlines access to critical minerals to strengthen supply chains

18 June 2024
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, left, and Chinese Premier Li Qiang shake hands in Canberra on June 17. Both men welcomed improved relations between their countries.
International relations

Chinese Premier Li Qiang says ties with Australia are back on track

Meeting with Prime Minister Albanese in Canberra comes as economic ties warm

17 June 2024