Politics

Then-incoming Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, in jacket, celebrates his election victory with allies in Suva on Dec. 20, 2022. 
Opinion

Fiji is trying to move beyond 'coup culture'

Democratic transition is off to a bumpy start and many risks remain

7 April 2023
The HMAS Stirling naval base in Western Australia will be expanded and is planned to serve as a central hub for AUKUS submarines.
Indo-Pacific

AUKUS front: Japan's top admiral visits Australian submarine base

Navy chief Sakai seeks deeper collaboration with nuclear-powered fleet

5 April 2023
Former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, left, has accused Rupert Murdoch's media empire of undermining democracy. (Source photos by Reuters and EPA/Jiji)
Media & Entertainment

Turnbull takes on Murdoch's Australian media empire

Former prime minister is calling for rigorous inquiry into News Corp

2 April 2023
Container ships at the Port of Felixstowe in England. CPTPP members have agreed on Britain's entry into the grouping.
Trade

U.K. accepted as 12th member of CPTPP trade bloc

Group aims to finalize first nonfounding member's accession in July

31 March 2023
Anthony Albanese, left, with Joe Biden and Rishi Sunak at U.S. Naval Base Point Loma in San Diego on March 13: The SSN-AUKUS program is set to constitute the backbone of the submarine force of both Australia and the U.K.
Opinion

AUKUS and GCAP set new Indo-Pacific security template

Technology cooperation more than a response to China's military modernization

28 March 2023
The U.S. plans to sell Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines to Australia under the plan announced March 13. (Photo by US Navy via Reuters)
Indo-Pacific

U.S. guards undersea superiority with Australia-U.K. nuclear sub deal

Washington advances distributed forces as short-term deterrence against China

15 March 2023
From left, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, U.S. President Joe Biden, and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak deliver remarks on the AUKUS partnership at Naval Base Point Loma in San Diego, California on March 13.
Indo-Pacific

AUKUS submarine deal seen as decades-long gamble for Australia

Cost, personnel and politics are risks in developing nuclear-powered fleet: analysts

14 March 2023
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during parliamentary question time on Feb.6: The risks of tunnel vision and overreach in Canberra are real.
Opinion

AUKUS focus carries risks for other areas of Australian security

Diversion of resources and attention could affect maintenance of Pacific order

12 March 2023
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, center left, and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, center right, signed a reciprocal access agreement in January.
International relations

Japan defense pacts with U.K. and Australia move closer to approval

Troop visits and training facilitated with 'quasi-allies' as Chinese threat looms

1 March 2023
Chinese students gather for photos at the University of Sydney on July 4, 2020, after a graduation ceremony was cancelled during the COVID-19 outbreak. 
Economy

Australia banks on China tailwind as rate hikes threaten slowdown

Influx of Chinese students, tourists could help offset RBA's hawkish policy

20 February 2023
Former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks with Nikkei Asia in Tokyo on Feb. 17. (Photo by Andrew Sharp)
Interview

Morrison says 'premature' for AUKUS expansion to include Japan

Former Australian PM welcomes NATO outreach to Indo-Pacific

17 February 2023
The use of psilocybin, a derivative from of magic mushrooms, is be legalized for specific mental health cases in Australia from July.
Politics

Australia approves ecstasy and magic mushrooms for medical use

Professionals will be able to prescribe the party drugs for PTSD, depression

15 February 2023
Australia's Woodside Energy Group has about a one-third interest in the joint venture for the Greater Sunrise gas fields in the Timor Sea.
Energy

Woodside and partners see path forward for East Timor gas field

Companies aim to move 'expeditiously' to settle dispute on LNG terminal location

14 February 2023
Australia’s ambassador-designate to Japan Justin Hayhurst after an interview on Feb. 3 in Tokyo. (Photo by Yuki Kohara)
Interview

China import ban won't squeeze Australia, says incoming Japan envoy

Canberra 'will continue to look to diversify markets': Justin Hayhurst

6 February 2023
Jacinda Ardern is embraced as she arrives at the Al Noor mosque in Christchurch in 2020 to unveil a memorial plaque in memory of the victims of a 2019 terror attack: She demonstrated how a woman leader can be both firm and empathetic.
Opinion

Jacinda Ardern did 'have it all' as New Zealand's prime minister

Despite sexist attacks, pioneer leaves with track record of policy successes

29 January 2023
New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaks during a news conference on July 8, 2022 in Sydney.
Politics

Ardern's departure shakes New Zealand election landscape

Likely that remote nation will have three prime ministers this year

20 January 2023
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern grimaces as she announces her resignation at a press conference in Napier, New Zealand on Jan. 19. 
Politics

New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern to step down in February

Prime minister also announces general election set for October

19 January 2023
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been accused ignoring the science in his decision to impose restrictions on travelers from China. (Nikkei montage/Getty Images/Reuters)
Coronavirus

Australia's curbs on travel from China slammed as unscientific

Critics claim Canberra's move was hasty, motivated by geopolitics

6 January 2023
Anthony Albanese in Bangkok on Nov. 18: Poll leads can turn around quickly for even the most popular governments.
Opinion

Albanese has let Australian voters down on COVID-19

Labor won kudos for states' virus management, but now is 'letting it rip'

5 January 2023
Kevin Rudd, Australia's new ambassador to the U.S., speaks to Nikkei Asia in Tokyo in early December. (Photo by Konosuke Urata) 
Politics

Kevin Rudd, Australia's new U.S. envoy, seen bringing change to China playbook

Sinologist seeks to 'engage and hedge' against 'ideological man' Xi

27 December 2022
People's Alliance Party leader Sitiveni Rabuka speaks to the press after Fiji's election in Suva on Dec. 17. He struck a coalition deal with two smaller parties to dislodge incumbent Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama.
Politics

Fiji's army deployed after uncertain election in coup-prone nation

After promising to respect democratic outcome, role of army suddenly unclear

22 December 2022
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong meets Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing on Dec. 21.
International relations

Australia's Penny Wong raises trade curbs, detainees on China visit

Two sides agree to keep talking after marking 50 years of ties

21 December 2022
High-tide flooding in the Marshall Islands capital of Majuro in this Dec. 6, 2021 photo.
Climate Change

Pacific islands see China-West tussle as chance for climate action

Geopolitics in area 'more and more intertwined' with global warming concerns

21 December 2022
Jacinda Ardern and Xi Jinping shake hands in Beijing in April 2019: New Zealand is finally waking up to the reality of the potential geostrategic threat posed by China.
Opinion

New Zealand is done with speaking softly to China

Wellington's shift to a firmer stance on Chinese abuses unlikely to go further

21 December 2022
Julian Assange outside the Ecuadorian embassy in London in May 2017: The British authorities do not really know what to do with him.
Opinion

Albanese is right: It is time to close the case of Julian Assange

Australian prime minister's move may signal end is near for WikiLeaks legal saga

20 December 2022