Members of the main opposition Democratic Party gather at an airport in Incheon, South Korea, on March 10, to protest the departure of Lee Jong-sup for Australia.
Politics

Australia envoy spat shakes South Korea's ruling party ahead of poll

Lee Jong-sup travels to Canberra to assume post after travel ban lifted

13 March 2024
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, left, meets with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Canberra on Feb. 29. The two countries are enhancing security cooperation. (AAP via Reuters)
Comment

U.S. allies in Indo-Pacific tremble at prospect of Trump return

Middle powers Japan, Philippines and Australia explore security cooperation

9 March 2024
Australian and U.S. navy ships in the South China Sea in 2020: The Australian military has been used most heavily in the service of U.S. alliance interests and crisis responses.
Opinion

Australia needs a new strategy to guide its defense planning

By establishing priorities, Canberra can better prioritize use of resources

7 March 2024
Leaders from Australia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations pose for an official photo during a summit in Melbourne on March 5.
International relations

Amid cyberscam threats, ASEAN-Australia pledge to tackle human trafficking

Expert says Australia must do more to fight transnational crime in Southeast Asia

6 March 2024
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks at a news conference with his Singaporean counterpart, Lee Hsien Loong, in Melbourne on March 5. 
Trade

Australia unveils $1.3bn fund for investment with ASEAN

Albanese pledges to support companies taking larger role in fast-developing region

5 March 2024
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, left, stands beside Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Governor of Victoria Margaret Gardner during a ceremony March 4 in Melbourne. 
5 March 2024
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong discusses maritime security at the ASEAN-Australia Summit in Melbourne on March 4 (Photo by Rurika Imahashi)
International relations

Australia wants 'region where no one country dominates': FM Wong

Tensions with China over contested waters top agenda at ASEAN-Australia summit

4 March 2024
The opening ceremony of National People's Congress in Mach 2023 at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. (Photo by Yusuke Hinata)
Your Week in Asia

China 'Two Sessions', ASEAN-Australia Summit, Malaysia rate decision

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

3 March 2024
Pro-Palestine protesters march to the Sydney Opera House on Oct. 9: Police advised the Jewish community to stay away from the rally.
Opinion

Australia's clampdown on hate crimes should protect Jews too

Upsurge in antisemitic incidents and threats yet to result in police action

3 March 2024
From left, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, U.S. President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak deliver remarks on the AUKUS defense partnership at Naval Base Point Loma in San Diego in 2023.
Defense

AUKUS weighs Japan's participation in defense tech development

Ahead of PM Kishida's visit in April, U.S. leads talks with U.K. and Australia

2 March 2024
Di Sanh "Sunny" Duong arrives for sentencing at the County Court of Victoria in Melbourne on Feb. 29.
Politics

Australian court jails man for foreign interference in favor of China

Di Sanh Duong aimed to influence policy; is first person sentenced under new law

29 February 2024
While Australia has become home for tens of thousands of former Hong Kong residents in the wake of the city's draconian new security law, campaigners say Canberra should be doing more to recruit Hong Kong talent and accelerate asylum approvals.
Asia Insight

In China's shadow, Hong Kong escapees urge Australia to raise visa game

Amid Canberra-Beijing thaw, asylum seekers left in limbo as program for workers, graduates grows

27 February 2024
A man drives over a causeway on Nov. 25, 2019 in Funafuti, Tuvalu. The tiny island nation on Monday named Feleti Teo as its new prime minister. 
Indo-Pacific

Taiwan ally Tuvalu names former attorney general as prime minister

Feleti Teo's election shows ties with Taipei remain strong, envoy says

26 February 2024
Mountain slopes stripped off their flora in New Caledonia. The French territory in the South Pacific is well known for its massive nickel deposits. (Photo by Akira Kitado)
International relations

In EV revolution, resource-rich Global South hopes to turn cash-rich

Bolivia and Indonesia tell Global North to give them a place on the value chain

25 February 2024
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, 2nd from right, with the presidents of Palau, Micronesia and the Marshall Islands in Washington in 2022. (Pool via Reuters) 
Opinion

Gridlock has put U.S. strategic advantages in the Pacific at risk

Failure to fund pacts with 3 island nations would leave void for China to fill

23 February 2024
The Australian warship HMAS Stalwart conducts a dual replenishment at sea. (Australian Department of Defence)
Defense

Australia boosts navy funding to build largest fleet since WWII

Government adds $7.2bn to double warships, citing 'uncertain world'

20 February 2024
This handout picture released by the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary on Feb. 19 shows officials patrolling near the town of Wabag, 600 kilometres northwest of the capital Port Moresby. 
Politics

Dozens killed in violence-plagued Papua New Guinea ambush

Illegal high-powered weapons worsening tribal conflict, says analyst

19 February 2024
Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, left, and Cook Islands Foreign Minister Tingika Elikana speak at a joint press conference in Fiji. The release of treated water from the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant was one of the issues in Kamikawa's talks with Pacific island leaders. (NIKKEI montage/Source photos by Reuters and Kyodo)
International relations

Japan seeks to allay Pacific island fears over Fukushima discharge

Foreign minister criticized for not fielding local press queries on treated water

13 February 2024
Ministers and representatives from 16 members of the Pacific Islands met with Japan's Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, seated fifth from the left, for talks on Sunday and Monday. (Photo by Ruri Imahashi)
International relations

Pacific nations caught in China-U.S. rivalry try to balance ties

PNG aims for stable relations with both, while Palau awaits Washington funding

12 February 2024
Peng Shuai playing at the U.S. Open in 2019. The Women's Tennis Association canceled tournaments in China after the player went missing following her 2021 sexual assault allegations.
Sports

China powers women's tennis despite Peng Shuai's uncertain fate

Questions linger over Chinese star's safety after high-profile sexual assault claims

11 February 2024
Japan aims to enhance the techniques used by government agencies and companies to detect and repel computer virus attacks through the CYDER drills. (Source photos by AP and Reuters)
Defense

Japan and five Pacific Islands countries plan cyberdefense drill

Cybersecurity experts from Palau, Nauru, 3 others to gather in Guam for exercise

8 February 2024
This undated, file photo shows Yang Hengjun and his wife Yuan Xiaoliang.
International relations

Yang Hengjun's death sentence shows power of China's secret service

Ministry of State Security sends message to would-be pro-democracy activists

8 February 2024
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, right, greets Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape at Parliament House in Canberra on Feb. 8. (AAP Image via AP)
International relations

PNG's Marape hails close ties in Australia speech as China seeks inroads

Address follows reports Beijing wants a security deal with the Pacific state

8 February 2024
Congress is struggling to approve aid packages for its strategic allies and partners.
Indo-Pacific

U.S. Congress aid fight gives opening to China in Pacific, critics say

Financing for key American strategic partners held up by partisan politics

8 February 2024
A Chinese national flag waves outside the Beijing No. 2 Intermediate People's Court where Australian writer Yang Hengjun faced trial on espionage charges in May 2021.
International relations

Australia 'appalled' after China hands writer suspended death sentence

Foreign Minister Penny Wong says ambassador summoned over Yang Hengjun case

5 February 2024