Politics

A woman signs before voting in a referendum in Noumea, New Caledonia, on Dec.12: France has reinforced a feeling of contempt toward the Kanak people.
Opinion

New Caledonia's Kanak people will never lose hope

The flame of self-determination cannot be extinguished

22 December 2021
The open pit mine of Molycorp's Mountain Pass rare earth facility in California, pictured in September 2009: the U.S. cannot make the same mistake again.
Opinion

Breaking China's grip on rare earths should be an AUKUS mission

Beijing has too much control over critical materials vital to advanced technology

20 December 2021
Ministers and delegates of the Pacific Rim trade bloc attend a joint press conference in Tokyo in January 2019: current CPTPP members should proactively lobby the U.S. to join the trade agreement.
Opinion

U.S. must rethink its approach to a flexible and inclusive Indo-Pacific

Washington needs to properly anchor itself into regional frameworks

14 December 2021
South Korean President Moon Jae-in, left, and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison are flanked by representatives of Hanwha Group and members of the Australian Defence Force during a signing ceremony in Canberra on Monday.
International relations

South Korea, Australia sign $930m deal to build howitzer plant

Moon, Morrison agree to cooperate on defense, supply chains at summit

13 December 2021
A person votes in a referendum in Noumea, New Caledonia, on Sunday to decide whether to break away from France.
12 December 2021
Sunday's referendum in New Caledonia is the final of three votes on gaining independence from France. A split was rejected in the first two plebiscites.
Asia Insight

China looms over New Caledonia vote on independence from France

Most indigenous Kanaks favor a split, but European residents tend to favor status quo

7 December 2021
The Lowy Institute, an Australian think tank, says the U.S. increased its influence in Asia this year, but warns of a grater risk of war as tensions between Washington and Beijing rise.
US-China tensions

China loses path to 'undisputed primacy' in Asia as U.S. rebounds

Lowy's Asia Power Index shows Beijing's ongoing challenge to Washington

5 December 2021
The late actor David Gulpilil, pictured in January 2015: the hope is that there will be many stories told in his wake.
Opinion

Australia has no future if it cannot understand its Aboriginal past

Injustice and dispossession sits at the foundation of today's society

4 December 2021
The USS Missouri departs Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam: Australia announced a nuclear submarine pact with the U.S. and U.K. in September. (U.S. Navy photo via AP)
Indo-Pacific

AUKUS sub deal triggers debate on nuclear safeguards

China and Russia raise proliferation concerns at IAEA over deployment

1 December 2021
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang hosts Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare in October 2019: The small Pacific island state switched diplomatic ties to Beijing away from Taiwan that year.
International relations

Solomon Islands unrest magnifies Pacific unease over China ties

Calm returns but perceptions of 'checkbook diplomacy on steroids' persist

29 November 2021
This street in the Solomon Islands capital of Honiara is strewn with rubble on Nov. 26. 
International relations

Papua New Guinea joins Australia effort to calm Solomon Islands

Some 50 police officers arrive in capital of Honiara after 3 days of protests

27 November 2021
Japanese and Australian ships engage in a joint naval exercise in this photo provided by the Maritime Self-Defense Force.
Indo-Pacific

Japan nears defense access deal with quasi-ally Australia next year

Agreement would smooth way for joint drills as China flexes muscle

24 November 2021
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, left, poses with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson at a meeting on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Rome on Oct. 30.
Comment

AUKUS raises questions about Australia as an 'Asian' nation

Canberra's narrative about regional role leaves ASEAN members wary

22 November 2021
Natalie Black, trade commissioner for the Asia-Pacific region: "Trade is about promoting free and open societies and demonstrating that capitalism works for everyone."
Interview

U.K. 'on track' to join CPTPP by 2022, trade official says

E-commerce, state spending talks 'moving incredibly quickly;' tariffs up next

16 November 2021
Modern coalitions must be more diverse.
Opinion

Japan should be admitted to the Five Eyes network

Difficulty adding new members demands a new type of intelligence sharing coalition

14 November 2021
A containership at a port in a Shenzhen free trade zone: APEC's joint statement called trade a "pillar for the development and future prosperity of all our people."
International relations

At APEC, Xi vows to open China as Taiwan promotes CPTPP bid

Biden raises U.S. engagement while grouping seeks trade-led COVID recovery

13 November 2021
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern meets with visiting Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison in May 2021.
Indo-Pacific

New Zealand signals shift in China stance by opening door to AUKUS

Diplomat indicates willingness to collaborate on technology outside of nuclear subs

3 November 2021
Australian states' individual responses to COVID-19 have shown they "have a lot more power than we probably realized," one expert told Nikkei Asia.
Coronavirus

One nation or 8? COVID fuels Australian power shift toward states

Temporary internal border closures seen affecting country's identity after pandemic

30 October 2021
AUKUS will supply Australia with nuclear submarine technology from the U.S. and U.K. -- an arrangement that does not sit well with some ASEAN governments.
International relations

AUKUS roils ASEAN waters ahead of East Asia Summit

Washington, Canberra, Beijing to join virtual meeting Wednesday evening

27 October 2021
ASEAN was not built to manage major-power competition, and it is unreasonable to expect it to do so.
Opinion

Can ASEAN coexist with the Quad?

Washington needs to start paying more attention to Indonesia

26 October 2021
With China building its influence in the region, Telstra said the Australian government approached it to help it buy the business.
Business deals

Telstra to buy Digicel Pacific for $1.6bn to block China influence

Australian government will front $1.33bn to back the deal

25 October 2021
Indonesian President Joko Widodo talks with locals during a visit to inspect a door-to-door mass vaccination program against COVID-19 in North Kalimantan province on October 19. Many Asia Pacific countries including Indonesia have struggled to reach minimal vaccination targets.
Opinion

Asia Pacific must fix its broken vaccine system

Prevailing zero-sum mentality and parochialism need to be overcome

25 October 2021
U.S. President Joe Biden hosts a summit with fellow Quad leaders -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and then-Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga -- at the White House last month.
Opinion

How to make the Quad truly quadrilateral

Japan, India and Australia must learn to share technology with each other

22 October 2021
New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian announces her resignation in Sydney on Oct. 1. She is now the subject of an inquiry into alleged corruption, though she denies any wrongdoing.
Politics

Australia corruption in focus as Gladys Berejiklian inquiry opens

Former NSW premier denies wrongdoing while country slips in global 'clean' ranks

18 October 2021
Australia-China relations have rapidly worsened since last year, but analysts say Canberra and its economy are weathering the storm. 
International relations

'Lucky' Australia seen weathering impact of China tensions for now

Analysts say commodities trends and security alliances work in Canberra's favor

17 October 2021