AUKUS

America’s Pacific retreat: China’s advance?

The Trump administration’s global tariffs, withdrawal of USAID activities and review of AUKUS are prompting Oceanian countries to reconsider their policies and look to China as an alternative partner, says academic Ghulam Ali. 

Ghulam Ali

Navigating Trump: Australia’s path to a more confident foreign policy

While Australians generally view their alliance with the US positively, Trump himself is deeply unpopular in Australia, and he is not trusted to act in ways that are supportive of Australia’s national interest. How is Australia readying itself for Trump 2.0? Australian academic David M. Andrews analyses the situation. 

David M. Andrews

US ally management is stronger than ever amid global turmoil

Commentator Guo Bingyun notes that the war in Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas conflict have strengthened rather than diminished the US’s relations with its allies, both in Asia and the West. This has made it easier for the US to navigate among countries such as the Philippines and its partners in groups such as the Quad.

Guo Bingyun

Why Japan is no closer to joining AUKUS

AUKUS, the Australia-UK-US alliance, is still far from admitting Japan as another member, not least because of cultural and security reasons, says Chinese academic Guo Bingyun.

Guo Bingyun

Japanese academic: Why Japan should join AUKUS

Japan’s potential inclusion in AUKUS could bolster defence capabilities for all members, but China views it as a NATO-like expansion. Japanese academic Masafumi Iida discusses the issue.

Masafumi Iida

Why AUKUS’s expansion is inevitable

Chinese military affairs commentator Song Zhongping thinks that AUKUS is turning into a new military organisation that promotes the exchange of advanced new military technologies and technological expansion. He explains why China is highly concerned about countries in the region and even NATO looking to be involved with AUKUS. 

Song Zhongping

China-Australia relations warm up again, but will it last?

The recent release of Chinese Australian news anchor Cheng Lei and the lifting of tariffs on key Australian exports into China are signalling a detente in China-Australia relations. But given the impact of external geopolitical issues and China-US relations on China-Australia bilateral relations, will the warming relations and resumption of exchanges and trade stay the course? Lianhe Zaobao's China Desk looks into the issue.

China Desk, Lianhe Zaobao

Chan Heng Chee: Small state in a turbulent world

Chan Heng Chee, ambassador-at-large and professor at the Lee Kuan Yew Centre for Innovative Cities, Singapore University of Technology and Design, delivered a speech at the Reinventing Destiny conference on 14 August, held in commemoration of the 100th birth year anniversary of Mr Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's founding prime minister. She spoke about how strengthening Singapore as a nation and being part of an inclusive regional grouping like ASEAN could help the city state better survive these divisive and conflictual times. Here is the edited transcript of her speech.

Chan Heng Chee

China's application to join CPTPP comes to the fore, after the UK's entry

​With the UK's addition to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the question of the next applicant, China, joining comes front and centre. Other applicants like Taiwan, Ecuador, Costa Rica and Uruguay are also keen to be part of a grouping that could become the largest free trade area in the world. Academic Min-Hua Chiang outlines the stakes involved.

Min-Hua Chiang

Arms dealers cannot be peacemakers: Europe is a lesson for Asia

Even as Asia-Pacific countries want to focus on trade and economic cooperation, geopolitical tussling - especially between the US and China - has got in the way of such efforts. Former journalist and MP Goh Choon Kang says that at a time when arms dealers have apparently become peacemakers, countries of this region must stay focused and not be sidetracked and dictated by the powers.

Goh Choon Kang

If at first you don't succeed: Australia woos the Indo-Pacific on AUKUS

Australia made extensive diplomatic overtures to Asia prior to its March update about the AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine arrangement with the UK and the US, note researchers Blake Herzinger and Alice Nason. Canberra appears to have gained some traction in the region, but it should not rest on its laurels.

Blake Herzinger

Australia far more wary of China than SEA nations despite thawing relations

Susannah Patton, director of the Southeast Asia Program at Lowy Institute, reflects on the thaw in Australia-China relations, surmising that the resumption of dialogue may mean Australia is no longer a regional outlier. But unchanging imperatives may see Australia's continued investment in capabilities for the regional deterrence of China, which may worry some in Southeast Asia.

Susannah Patton