Politics

The problem for Scott Morrison is that China holds most of the cards.
Opinion

Australia's China problem will only get worse

Unlike the rest of Asia, Canberra seems to think the US will come to its rescue

20 November 2020
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, left, and Japanese counterpart Yoshihide Suga agreed on security cooperation for a "free, open" Indo-Pacific in Tuesday's summit.
Indo-Pacific

Japan and Australia reinforce Quad bond in message to Biden

US president-elect's Asia strategy has region on its toes

18 November 2020
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga bump elbows before a welcome ceremony in Tokyo on Nov. 17.
Indo-Pacific

Indo-Pacific partners Japan and Australia bolster defense ties

Suga-Morrison pact will streamline joint military exercises

18 November 2020
Morrison is prepared to spend two weeks in quarantine.
Opinion

Australia cements closer ties with Japan

Scott Morrison first foreign leader to call on Yoshihide Suga in person

17 November 2020
Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc chairs the 4th RCEP Summit on Nov. 15: the agreement is poised to become a critical platform for the discussion of trade and economic issues.
Opinion

RCEP agreement will transform trade in Asia, for Asia

First time China, Japan, and South Korea connected via one trade pact

16 November 2020
Leaders and trade ministers from the 15 Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership countries pose for a virtual group photo during the signing ceremony hosted by Vietnam on Nov. 15.
Trade

Asia forms world's largest trading bloc RCEP after years of talks

After signing, focus turns to ratification; China to hold sway in India's absence

16 November 2020
Queen Elizabeth II meets Scott Morrison and his wife Jennifer at Buckingham Palace in June 2019: the existence of monarchies in the 21st century is antithetical to democracy.
Opinion

Asia's monarchies are no longer earning their keep

Hereditary rule undermines humanity's relentless quest for equality

13 November 2020
An aeromedical evacuation team of the Australian and U.S. air forces rushes to transfer patients with simulated injuries during Exercise Cope North at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam. The Japanese Air Self-Defense Force also attended the drill. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Air Force)
13 November 2020
A U.S. guided-missile destroyer, an Indian tanker and an Australian frigate participate in the Malabar joint naval exercise. (Photo via the U.S. Navy)
Indo-Pacific

'Quad' nations flaunt stronger ties with first drill in 13 years

China tensions spur cooperation between Japan, US, India and Australia

7 November 2020
Few leaders have gotten under Xi Jinping's skin like Scott Morrison.
Opinion

China's bullying of Australia is bound to backfire

World watches intently as Scott Morrison goes mano-a-mano with Xi Jinping

5 November 2020
Imported timber at an industrial park in China's Jiangxi Province: China accounted for 84% of Australia's timber exports in the year through June.
Trade

China blocks Australian timber imports in widening trade row

Logs joins lobsters, coal and cotton on list of targets as bilateral ties fray

3 November 2020
More than 90% of Australia's lobster exports go to China.
Trade

Australian lobster held up in Chinese customs: trade group

Seafood faces tougher inspections at time of rising bilateral tensions

2 November 2020
Former Australian Prime Minister and ASPI President Kevin Rudd: He sees an urgent need for the U.S. and China to "stabilize" their relationship when it comes to Taiwan.
Interview

'Dangerous period' ahead for US and China, Australia's Rudd warns

Ex-PM fears Taiwan crisis between election and inauguration days in Washington

31 October 2020
Scott Morrison during Question Time in the House of Representatives on Oct 8: his government's record has been anything but patient or consistent.
Opinion

Scott Morrison's China policies are selling Australia short

Canberra ignoring the real conundrum at the heart of its relationship with Beijing

28 October 2020
Islands in Palau: Over 90% of cross-border telecom data is carried by underwater cables.
International relations

Japan, US and Australia to finance undersea cable for Palau

Project marks first infrastructure aid for free and open Indo-Pacific under Suga

28 October 2020
Grain harvesting in the state of Victoria: China's 80% tariff on Australian barley has hit the industry hard.
Trade

China trade pressure sends Australia 'wake-up call' to diversify

From Indonesia to India, exporters face a battle to make up for lost business

26 October 2020
Stream article image
International relations

Quad drills: Australia to join India, US and Japan at Malabar

Four countries eye defense cooperation in Indian and Pacific oceans, irking China

20 October 2020
A cotton farm in Narrabri, Australia: China purchased 63% of Australia's cotton exports in the year through June.
Commodities

Australia's cotton falls prey to diplomatic row with China

Growers eye shift to Vietnam and Bangladesh as biggest buyer shuns Canberra

17 October 2020
Facebook is enhancing the encryption capabilities of its Messenger and Whatsapp services.
Technology

Five Eyes and Japan call for Facebook backdoor to monitor crime

Security alliance worries encrypted messaging apps can be used by bad actors

11 October 2020
Japan, the largest consumer of liquefied natural gas, hopes to keep funds flowing to gas field development projects.
Energy

Japan strives to lessen LNG supply chain's environmental burden

Partnership with Australia and ASEAN nations comes amid divestment trend

10 October 2020
Is the COVID-19 pandemic likely to alter the direction of the world and humanity?
Opinion

Which nations will emerge the strongest from COVID-19?

Liberal democracies must rise to protect the multilateral rules-based order

10 October 2020
The chief diplomats of the Quad group of nations gathered in Tokyo on Oct. 6. (Pool photo/Mainichi Shimbun)
International relations

Quad ministers agree to meet once a year

US, Japan, India and Australia reaffirm 'shared goal' of open Indo-Pacific

6 October 2020
From left, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. The top diplomats will meet in Tokyo on Oct. 6 for "Quad" talks. (Source photos AP, U.S. Navy)
Comment

Suga builds on Abe's legacy with Quad diplomacy

Quasi-alliances with India and Australia provide Japan firmer footing to take on China

6 October 2020
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks in Dubrovnik, Croatia on Friday as part of his six-day trip to Southern Europe. He will visit Tokyo from Tuesday. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic, Pool)
International relations

Pompeo heads to Tokyo for Quad talks as Trump stays hospitalized

Huawei, COVID-19 and supply chains to be included in security dialogue

5 October 2020
China in May slapped a prohibitive 80% tariff on barley imports from Australia, one of the world's main exporters of the grain.
Commodities

Australian barley hits 3-year low amid friction with Beijing

Exports to China nosedive, triggered by conflict over origin of pandemic

3 October 2020