Blog
Oceania
Australian Ministers Won’t Comment on Media Reports That Indian Spies Were Secretly Expelled
By Rod McGuirk
Australia's prime minister, foreign minister, and treasurer all deflected questions about India’s reported “nest of spies” in the country.
Where to Next in Australia’s Battle With Elon Musk and X?
By Terry Flew
The Australian government’s battle with Elon Musk and X over violent content appears admirable, but will it change anything for those vulnerable to its harm?
What Does It Mean to Defend Australia?
By Grant Wyeth
Defending Australia's way of life, not just its shores, is a central objective of the new National Defense Strategy.
Sogavare Stands Down as Dust Settles From Solomon Islands Election
By Patricia O’Brien
The four-time prime minister says he won’t contest for the top office, with the election results repudiating in part the geopolitical direction he’s led the Solomon islands.
Violence Against Women Is a Wicked, and Urgent, Problem for Australia
By Grant Wyeth
Were Islamist extremists or white supremacists murdering someone every four days – the rate at which Australian women are being killed so far in 2024 – it would be deemed a national emergency.
China, Fiji and the Fentanyl Scourge
By Patricia O’Brien
Recent sensational revelations show how extensively Fiji has been affected by – and integral to – one of the most sensitive dimensions of China’s rise: the illicit drug trade.
Strengthening Australia’s Engagement in the Indian Ocean
By Grant Wyeth
Australia must work a little harder to fully integrate itself as a member of the Indian Ocean community.
Australia’s (Alleged) Mushroom Murders Raise the Question of How Women Kill
By Aisyah Llewellyn
The case of Erin Patterson, who has been charged with poisoning four relatives of her ex-husband, has transfixed the country.
Solomon Islands Goes to the Polls
By Sribala Subramanian
The nation’s pro-China foreign policy is on the ballot.
China’s Influence Weighs Heavily on Solomon Islands Election
By Priestley Habru
Chinese cash is reaping political rewards ahead of the Solomon Islands election as the West fails to walk the talk in its Pacific step-up.
How Conservative Media Fuels Australia’s Nuclear Power Debate
By Phil McManus
Debates over nuclear power in Australia continue to be stoked not by industry or voters, but by the media.
Japan and Great Power Competition in the Pacific
By YATSUZUKA Masaaki
New developments in Japanese security involvement in Pacific Island countries.