Politics

Julian Assange leaves Westminster Magistrates Court in London on Jan 13: the Assange case is about freedom of speech.
Opinion

Why Julian Assange must go free

Canberra's commitment to US efforts to contain China make an ideal bargaining chip

7 September 2020
Commonwealth flags in London: Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the U.K. share a common language and democratic norms, though this does not guarantee smooth sailing toward closer ties.
International relations

'CANZUK' alliance idea makes waves with Indo-Pacific in flux

Assertive China and unpredictable US revive calls for tight-knit 'Anglosphere'

4 September 2020
A Fortescue mine in Western Australia's Pilbara region: Aboriginal sites with sacred texts and rock art stand in the way of the company's expansion plans.
Society

After Rio Tinto row, Aboriginal Australians turn to next fight

Advocates urge legislation to protect other sacred sites in danger of demolition

3 September 2020
Shinzo Abe shakes hands with Malcom Turnbull in Sydney in January 2017: even after Donald Trump pulled out, we had agreed to keep TPP alive by the remaining countries.
Opinion

This is why the world will miss Shinzo Abe

His unique skill set greatly increased Japan's global stature and influence

29 August 2020
Narendra Modi, center, and other leaders shake hands at the third RCEP summit in Bangkok in November 2019: hope of India's return has not entirely faded.
Opinion

India's return to RCEP is in everyone's interests

New Delhi concerned over opening its markets but should recognize strategic gains

26 August 2020
India pulled out of the RCEP negotiations over concerns that the pact would hurt the South Asian country's domestic producers. (Nikkei montage/source photos by Reuters and Rie Ishii)
Trade

Talks on Asian trade megadeal RCEP resume in COVID shadow

India likely to remain absent as Vietnam leads push for year-end agreement

26 August 2020
A bottle of Australian wine at a bar in Beijing: China accounts for about 40% of Australia's wine exports.
International relations

China locks onto Australian farm imports as relations fray

Tensions have escalated since Canberra's push for coronavirus probe

24 August 2020
A truck hauls coal out of Pakistan's Tharparkar region, the world's seventh largest coal deposit. 
International relations

China pivots to old ally Pakistan for coal after Australia spat

Thar field designed for domestic power but might increase Beijing's options

19 August 2020
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaks to the media on Aug. 17, explaining her decision to postpone the general election until Oct. 17.
Politics

New Zealand's COVID comeback overshadows Ardern's reelection bid

As mysterious new outbreak delays vote, popular PM's rivals smell opportunity

18 August 2020
A rare earth mine in China's Inner Mongolia. China is said to control 90% of heavy rare earth minerals.
Commodities

US-Australia bid for 'China free' rare earth faces challenges

Mining the minerals is seen as akin to buying a whole cow for the sirloin

18 August 2020
New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern listens during a joint news conference with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in Auckland in December 2018. 
Opinion

New Zealand says South Korean diplomat row separate from WTO chief pick

Country's ambassador to South Korea responds to Nikkei Asian Review article

8 August 2020
An iron ore mine in Western Australia. The country exports the bulk of its iron ore to China.
Trade

Australia's soaring exports to China at risk in diplomatic rift

Trade to suffer unless Canberra eases criticism: Communist Party-backed paper

7 August 2020
The Black Hornet 2 remotely piloted aircraft system, controlled by a member of the U.K.'s Royal Marines: The pocket-sized, camera-equipped drone is a reconnaissance tool for militaries and law enforcement.
International relations

China's rise forges new bond between Japan and Five Eyes

Intelligence sharing and TPP membership seen as next steps in weaving relationship

7 August 2020
Australia recognizes that a strong China will be an enduring feature of the Asian strategic system.
Opinion

China's rise must be managed, not contested. Australia knows how.

Liberal powers need to counter Beijing's tactic of picking nations off one by one

7 August 2020
South Korean President Moon Jae-in, left, and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speak after a summit in Auckland, New Zealand, in December 2018.
International relations

Diplomat sex scandal in New Zealand imperils South Korean WTO bid

Ardern has asked Moon to send suspect back to Wellington to face charges

6 August 2020
A man walks on July 30 in Melbourne, where the new COVID-19 lockdown permits residents to leave home only for work, exercise and essential outings.
Coronavirus

Australians fret over cuts to JobKeeper and JobSeeker COVID aid

'It's going to be worse than ever,' warns recipient as PM eyes deficit

1 August 2020
Australia wants tech platforms to negotiate "in good faith" with news outlets.
1 August 2020
The flags of the U.S. and Australia are seen outside the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. (Photo courtesy of the State Department)
US-China tensions

US ropes Australia into coalition to curb China's rise

Asia-Pacific faces growing pressure to take sides in great decoupling

29 July 2020
From right, U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne and Australian Defense Minister Linda Reynolds take part in a joint news conference at the State Department on July 28. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. State Department)
US-China tensions

US and Australia propose 'network of alliances' to curb China

Five Eyes, Quad and ASEAN tapped as guardians of Indo-Pacific security

29 July 2020
A submarine-cable laying ship in the Caribbean Sea. Chile picked a route that would take the cable to New Zealand and Australia, not Shanghai.
29 July 2020
A Lynas mine in Western Australia: Rare-earth elements are mined worldwide, but refining is largely handled in China. (Photo courtesy of Lynas)
27 July 2020
A still image of the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea provided by the U.S. Navy in 2015. 
South China Sea

China shoots across US bow with South China Sea drills

Weeklong live-fire exercises follow tit-for-tat consulate closures

27 July 2020
An electric-vehicle charger: Graphite is used in the batteries that power EVs.
Automobiles

Australia challenges China's graphite crown in EV batteries

Mines use Sino-US brawl to break into vital anode material market

25 July 2020
The Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group and units from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and Australian Defense Force participate in trilateral exercises in the Philippine Sea on July 21. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Naval Forces Japan)
22 July 2020
Many countries fear Beijing's new security law covering Hong Kong will be used to crack down on pro-democracy activists and critics of the mainland government.
International relations

Abe and Morrison share concern over Hong Kong security law

Japan and Australia seek to resume business travel between countries

10 July 2020