The great Chinese cover-up

China may now want to expel foreign correspondents to control its own narrative and stem negative coverage but its connections to the outside world means the country can no longer be isolated and escape critical coverage, no matter how much it tries.

Reporting on China, not from China

For the first time since 1973, the Australian media has no foreign correspondents in China—a consequence of the Chinese government’s decision to drown out all critical voices, both foreign or domestic.

A political divide, not moral equivalence

Let’s not have our tails twisted by Beijing-created narratives characterising how we operate as in any way a mirror of, or an excuse for, the actions of the CCP’s own nasty security apparatus.

China-Australia tension hammers human ties

For all the concern this year that political tensions between Australia and China might harm trade and investment, this isn’t the most acute stress in the bilateral relationship.

China’s wolf-warrior tactics are here to stay

Taken together, Xi’s opaque speeches, his military’s coercive behaviour and the increasingly unhinged statements of China’s diplomats and party-controlled media make the Communist Party’s intentions all too clear.

Actions speak louder than words

The detention of Australian journalist Cheng Lei gives lie to Chinese President Xi’s supposed ‘reform and opening up’ agenda.

Pushing back against China

A collective response by allied nations and regional powers is required to contain China’s increasingly brutal international bullying.

China’s wine dumping ‘investigation’ shows Australian businesses must plan for Chinese coercion

Australian companies are getting the point—trade with China is hostage to the actions of the ruling Chinese Communist Party regardless of consumer desires or business partnerships formed over decades.

China’s third revolution

On the brink of a new cold war, China has more instruments of power than it has ever had, but its challenges and missteps mean that the world’s democratic countries still have the upper hand – at least for the moment.

International pressure can help protect Hong Kong

The UN needs to establish a special envoy to closely monitor the decline of human rights in Hong Kong, says Australia Director at Human Rights Watch and adjunct lecturer at UNSW Law Elaine Pearson.

Australians at increasing risk of arbitrary arrest abroad

International travel remains off the agenda for most people, but two UNSW academics have expanded on the Australian government’s warning Australians could be ‘at risk of arbitrary arrest’ in China, Iran, Vietnam and other oppressive nations.

The hidden hand of Chinese power

The Chinese Communist Party’s global influence operations are covert but pervasive, and are undermining Western democratic institutions. Hidden Hand is very welcome in raising our awareness of this, and the stakes involved.