Australia needs a clear and consistent China policy

Our government should take a leaf out of China’s book by strongly promoting our national interests, speaking plainly in defence of our core values, and explaining our strategic priorities to the domestic public.

Thirty years after Tiananmen it’s time to face facts and join forces

Thirty years after Tiananmen we need to spend less time trying to fix China and more time shoring up our ability to take care of ourselves, our societies and all of our citizens.

Tiananmen Square, 3–4 June 1989

The Chinese Communist Party goes to extraordinary lengths to suppress discussion of the brutal student massacre which crushed pro-democracy protests 30 years ago, but memories of the tragedy remain as intense as ever.

Standing up to bullies in the South China Sea

Public diplomacy around Australia’s relationship with the Chinese state in general, and the antics of its military in the South China Sea in particular, are becoming a major issue for Canberra.

Australian Navy helicopters hit with Chinese lasers

Australian ships participating in a recent exercise were the subject of close attention by shadowing Chinese assets, ranging from demands for course information from Chinese navy ships to lasers aimed from “fishing vessels”.

Australia should stop bolstering China’s military

A clear statement that Australia will not increase the war fighting capability of the Chinese military would be common sense and offer a guiding principle for future decision-making.

Assessing China’s soft power in the Pacific

The fragility of Australian soft power in the Pacific has less to do with Chinese influence than a perception that Canberra has drifted away from the regional consensus on climate change, development priorities and economic relations.

Delving deeper after the ABC’s China investigations

The recent ABC documentary exposing China’s political interference in Australian affairs did little to question the effectiveness of this country’s foreign intervention laws.

How the Chinese military exploits Western universities and tech firms

The willingness of Western universities and tech firms to work with Chinese experts without checking their links with the PLA could advance China’s military capability to our strategic disadvantage.

It’s time to confront China’s efforts to curb Australia’s academic freedom

There is increasing concern about Chinese government interference in Australian politics, and a spotlight should also be shone on China’s malign influence on our university campuses.

Managing our post-election relationship with China

No matter who forms the next government, Australian policymakers will need to be flexible – and resourceful – in handling the rise of China in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Chinese coal ‘ban’ sends a significant political message

The standoff over Australian coal imports through the Chinese port of Dalian sends a powerful political message that the authorities in Beijing can turn our imports off and on at will.