The highs are numerous and growing. Both nations are parties to a plethora of bilateral agreements including the Lombok Treaty (2006), the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2018) and the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (2019). Australia has committed significant diplomatic resources to Indonesia, with its network … Continue readingTHE AUSTRALIAN-INDONESIAN RELATIONSHIP
Although it is an uncomfortable truth to confront, COVID-19 has exposed deep-rooted inequalities within hierarchies globally, which have enabled certain classes of people to benefit from exploiting a perceived ‘lower’ class. Whilst the pandemic itself has been indiscriminate, it is clear that disadvantaged groups have … Continue readingA PASSAGE THROUGH INDIA
First they came for the Tibetans And I did not speak out Because I was not a Tibetan Then they came for the Uighurs And I did not speak out Because I was not a Uighur Then they came for the Hong Kongers And I … Continue readingHONG KONG’S DARKEST HOUR
Australia has faced the same policy issue for the past 15 years; Balancing economic ties with China, whilst sustaining its strategic relationship with the US in order to secure its position in the Indo Pacific region. However, caught in the crossfire of great power competition, … Continue readingAUSTRALIA’S POLICY DILEMMA
A SECOND SINO-INDIAN WAR? In May earlier this year, Chinese and Indian infantry units clashed in the Naku La area in Sikkim. 11 soldiers were injured on both sides in that engagement, and tensions between the two countries grew as both sides built up more … Continue readingSHOWDOWN IN THE HIMALAYAS
WHAT SHOULD OUR PRIORITIES BE FOR POST-COVID RECOVERY? Last month, we celebrated the 50th Earth Day. A day to celebrate our planet and appreciate it in an effort to further the pursuit of conserving the flora and fauna that call this planet their home too … Continue readingLESSONS FROM THE PANDEMIC
ROHINGYA REFUGEES LEFT TO DIE AT SEA Whilst the world seems to have come to a standstill during pandemic lockdown, the persecution of Rohingyas has not ceased with hundreds of the stateless people being forced to flee Myanmar. Malaysia has intercepted and turned back trawlers … Continue reading“HUMAN PING PONG”
The landslide majority of the Pro-Democracy camp is hard to write off as anything other than a resounding affirmation of public support. Last Sunday saw the District Councils of Hong Kong, previously loyal to Beijing, upended by an unorthodox election cycle that propelled Pro-Democrats to … Continue readingHONG KONG’S RECKONING | ELECTION ANALYSIS
The hot topic around government, finance, and investment circles is sustainability, and no where is this more important than in Southeast Asia where ASEAN is trying to walk the fine line of development which is environmentally and economically sustainable.. Southeast Asia is a region that … Continue readingLOOKING TO THE FUTURE: GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE IN SE-ASIA
BY JACOB YAP – It has always been easy for me to understand why I never truly loved the Philippines. For one, my Australian upbringing has influenced me tremendously. Born in Australia, I never learned the main dialect of Tagalog, which led to many a … Continue readingFILIPINO – A CULTURE TO BE PROUD OF