The Pacific power game

The island states of the Pacific – from large Papua New Guinea to the smaller island states like Tuvalu – find themselves in a newly influential position as the west and China battle for their strategic backing.

China’s shadow falls across the Pacific

The mollifying words coming out of Beijing cannot mask the acceleration of its plan to establish ever greater political, economic and military power across the South Pacific.

Tanks can’t crush the human spirit

This weekend marks 100 days since Russia invaded Ukraine and 33 years since the Chinese Army massacred students in Tiananmen Square but, wherever they roll, the tanks of authoritarian states can never crush people’s desire for democracy.

Xi’s endgame and strategic power manoeuvres

The world faces a century of a prolonged and sustained adversarial relationship between the US and China, with constant chessboard manoeuvring of containment and countermeasures.

China’s Pacific offensive

China is looking to sign another 10 ‘security’ agreements with Pacific states in the wake of its controversial deal with the Solomons, tightening its grip on the region despite Australia’s best efforts to stem the tide.

Russia’s debacle gives China pause for thought

A swift Russian victory in Ukraine would surely have encouraged China to invade Taiwan, but determined local resistance, effective sanctions and the power of modern Western weapons will give Xi pause for thought.

Panda huggers and dragon slayers

Dazzled by the prospect of economic opportunities, Australia had high hopes for a closer relationship with China at the start of the ‘Asian Century’ but the reality of China’s oppressive, aggressive intentions has forced all but the most craven China apologists to reassess their views.

Djibouti shows what Sogavare’s deal with China entails

The President of the Solomon Islands is endangering his people’s individual and societal freedoms through his increasingly close partnership with Beijing and its repressive security forces.

The tiger and the bear

Putin’s war in Ukraine, like Covid-19 and increased strategic competition with the US and other major powers, have both negative and positive consequences for the rulers in Beijing who harbour similar dreams of absolute power.

Ukraine today, Taiwan tomorrow?

Fears the West’s failure to militarily intervene to save Ukraine from Russian tanks may embolden a Chinese assault on Taiwan may be misplaced – as China’s bloody history of regional bullying suggests they plan to do it anyway.

Chinese chequers

The Liberal Party was as guilty as Labor of courting China in the past, but whoever wins the next Federal election will need a clear eyed view of Chinese intentions and work with our allies to counter them.

How China will lose the world

China seems to be on a path towards global leadership. However, according to Luke Patey’s new book How China Loses, with middle powers and developing countries pushing back against China’s overreach, China is unlikely command influence over global affairs.