Politics

Xi Jinping inspects troops of the People's Liberation Army in June 2017: the Chinese President's belligerence deserves considerable blame.
Opinion

Is Xi Jinping ruining his chances of a third term?

As China's economy races forward, its 'soft power' veers in reverse

10 May 2021
A Qantas flight to mark the airline's 100th birthday departs from Sydney Airport in November 2020.
Transportation

Qantas-JAL tie-up faces veto from Australian antitrust regulator

Plan to coordinate flights would undermine post-pandemic competition: watchdog

6 May 2021
China's suspension of an economic dialogue pact with Australia casts doubt on the notion that while ties have deteriorated, day-to-day relations are still intact, according to one expert.
International relations

China freeze on Australia dialogue cuts deeper into practical ties

Beijing's move called 'worrying' but still short of 'nuclear option' on FTA

6 May 2021
U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson hosts a virtual G-7 meeting in February. This week's gathering of foreign ministers will be the group's first in-person meeting since COVID-19 hit. (File photo by pool/AP)
International relations

China and Russia's authoritarian challenge hangs over G-7 meeting

India, Australia, South Korea and ASEAN to attend London summit as guests

3 May 2021
Peter Dutton, left, Australia's new defense minister, has signaled a tough stance on China.
1 May 2021
Indonesian military officials show debris believed to have come from the missing submarine on April 24. (Courtesy of Indonesian military)
International relations

Indonesian submarine deemed to have sunk after debris turns up

Oxygen was expected to run out early Saturday, depending on electricity

24 April 2021
In better days: Staff members chat at a Beijing venue as they prepare a seminar of Australia-China bilateral cooperation in resources and infrastructure in Western  Australia. 
Belt and Road

Australia nixes state Belt and Road deals with China in first veto

Morrison government uses new powers amid concerns over Beijing's influence

22 April 2021
Japan will propose an in-person summit with fellow Quad members the U.S., India and Australia.
International relations

Japan seeks first in-person Quad summit in June on G-7 sidelines

Suga plans trip to India after Washington visit to shore up support

8 April 2021
French amphibious assault helicopter carrier, Tonnerre, approaches to dock at Cochin Port, in Kochi on March 30.
Indo-Pacific

France to lead Quad naval drill in Indo-Pacific challenge to China

Five-nation exercise in Bay of Bengal seeks to promote maritime cooperation

2 April 2021
Australian officials deliver thousands of initial AstraZeneca vaccine doses to Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, on March 23.
Coronavirus

Australia vaccine diplomacy tested as COVID slams Papua New Guinea

Vying with China for Pacific influence, Quad member aims to win over skeptics

31 March 2021
The freighter Shinas Max carrying 400,000 tons of iron ore is berthed at Zhoushan Port in China's Zhejiang Province. China currently relies on Australia for more than 60% of its iron ore imports.
Commodities

China determined to build iron ore hub in Africa as Australia goes Quad

World's largest untapped reserve in Guinea could be online by 2025, expert says

31 March 2021
China continues to import Australian iron ore as part of its economic recovery push even as it imposes tariffs and other curbs on other Australian products.
Trade

Despite China feud, Australia resource exports to hit record by value

Soaring iron ore prices make up for friction in bilateral trade

30 March 2021
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, right, addresses his fellow Quad Leaders, top to bottom, U.S. President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, from New Delhi on March 12. (Photo courtesy of Prime Minister's Office of India)
Indo-Pacific

Why Quad boosts India's vaccine diplomacy: 5 things to know

Group to make and distribute 1bn COVID doses to counter China's moves

22 March 2021
The Quad leaders on a monitor during the virtual meeting, pictured in Tokyo on Mar. 12: India's partners seem unfazed with India turning into a China lite.
Opinion

What the Quad misses about India is that it wants to follow China

The one thing most Indians agree on is Beijing-style authoritarianism

21 March 2021
Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison participates in the Quad leaders meeting via video link in Sydney on Mar. 13: the biggest beneficiary was Australia.
Opinion

Quad leaders hand Australia a bigger stick to fend off China

Beijing's attempts to bully Canberra have been utterly counterproductive

16 March 2021
Protesters in Sydney join nationwide demonstrations on March 15 over the treatment of women in Australian politics, following explosive sexual assault allegations.
Politics

Australia sex assault protests pressure Morrison to deliver reform

Thousands join 'March 4 Justice' rallies as high-profile political scandals burn

15 March 2021
A police officer stands guard outside the Masjid Al Noor mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand, two days after the March 15, 2019, shooting attack by a lone Australian gunman.
Terrorism

Two years after Christchurch shooting, far-right haunts Australia

New Zealand attack by Australian gunman exemplifies growing security threat

15 March 2021
A U.S. pilot sits in the cockpit of an F-16 Fighting Falcon during sunrise at McEntire Joint National Guard Base, South Carolina. The leaders of the Quad committed to promoting a free, open rules-based order, rooted in international law in the Indo-Pacific at the inaugural summit on Friday. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Air Force)
Indo-Pacific

The Quad comes of age: In pictures

Partnership has eye on China as it pushes for pandemic recovery

15 March 2021
U.S. President Joe Biden speaks at a virtual meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, from the State Dining Room of the White House on March 12.
Indo-Pacific

A new dawn: Quad leaders vow to define the Indo-Pacific century

Working group to help develop tech standards; in-person summit planned this year

13 March 2021
Yoshihide Suga, Joe Biden, Scott Morrison and Narendra Modi -- the leaders of the Quad nations -- are stepping up their efforts to counter China. (Source photos by Reuters and AFP/Jiji)
Indo-Pacific

Quad tightens rare-earth cooperation to counter China

Japan, India, Australia and US to collaborate in tech, funding and rule-making

11 March 2021
Left to right, Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, U.S. President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, want to counter China. (Source photos by AP)
International relations

Quad leaders to agree on vaccine aid to counter China influence

Discussion will also touch on environment, Xinjiang and Myanmar

10 March 2021
The leaders of Australia, the U.S., Japan and India will meet online as early as next week for the first summit of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue. (Nikkei montage/photos by Reuters)
Indo-Pacific

First Quad summit mirrors Biden's pivot to Indo-Pacific

Group of democracies converge as China expands defense budget by 6.8%

6 March 2021
A containership at Sydney's Botany Bay in October: Amid the coronavirus pandemic, Australian exporters faced escalating Chinese trade restrictions in 2020.
Economy

Australia's GDP bounce defies China's trade pressure

Exporters find alternative customers as Morrison's COVID response pays off

4 March 2021
Qarhan Salt Lake has helped make China's Qinghai Province a major producer of lithium. (Photo by Yusuke Hinata)
Climate Change

Who will be the battery powerhouse? China, Japan and the West compete

From lithium to assembly, a global dash is on to secure supply chains

2 March 2021
Australia and Facebook became locked in a standoff after the government introduced legislation that challenged the dominance of Facebook and Google in the news content market.
Media & Entertainment

Facebook to restore Australian news pages after legislation tweaks

Concession deal struck after a series of talks over the weekend

23 February 2021