The return of the Asian century
Might two centuries of Western dominance of the global economy turn out to be little more than a blip when seen in the grand sweep of economic history
By Mark Thirlwell
Thursday 22 Oct 2020 | 18:18 | SYDNEY
Let end muddled thinking on China
In an opinion piece in The Australian, Lowy Institute Non-resident Senior Fellow Professor Alan Dupont writes that signals we send to Beijing are confusing.The Australian, 22 June 2011, p. 8
By Alan Dupont
Crisis and confidence: major powers and maritime security in Indo-Pacific Asia
Maritime tensions have remained high on the Asian security agenda after the 2011 East Asia Summit and ASEAN Regional Forum. Crisis and Confidence: major powers and maritime security in Indo-Pacific Asia, warns of the risks of war in the South China Sea and other regional waters. It examines the
By Rory Medcalf, Raoul Heinrichs, Justin Jones
Living with the dragon: why Australia needs a China strategy
In this Policy Brief, Lowy Institute Non-resident Senior Fellow, Professor Alan Dupont argues that Australia has failed to grasp the full implications of China’s meteoric rise or the risk of conflict in the Western Pacific. He calls for a coherent, national approach to China, one that is informed
By Alan Dupont
Wednesday Lunch at Lowy: Living with the dragon - Professor Alan Dupont presentation
At the Wednesday Lunch on 22 June, Professor Alan Dupont spoke about his new Lowy Institute Policy Brief, 'Living with the Dragon: Why Australia needs a China strategy'.Dr Dupont argued that Australia has failed to grasp the full implications of China’s meteoric rise or the risk of conflict in the
By Alan Dupont
Soldiers' sacrifice best honoured by good policy: get out now
In a syndicated opinion piece for The Age, Raoul Heinrichs, editor of the Lowy Institute's Strategic Snapshot series, argues that it's time for Australia to withdraw from Afghanistan.The Age, 8 June 2011, p. 17
By Raoul Heinrichs
Tomes, tweets and think tanks
In his latest Advance Column in the US Studies Centre journal American Review, Lowy Institute International Security Program Director Rory Medcalf reviews five important new books on Asian security, ranging across Sino-Japanese relations, China's naval ambitions and the challenges facing Indian
By Rory Medcalf
American power and Asia uncertain future: an alliance perspective
Lowy Institute Director of Studies and Senior Research Fellow Andrew Shearer spoke at the Robert S. Strauss Center for International Security and Law on May 4, 2011. His presentation, "American power and Asia's uncertain future: an alliance perspective', can be viewed here
By Andrew Shearer
Wednesday Lunch at Lowy - Rory Medcalf presentation
In recent years, the idea of a looming struggle between China and India has seized the imaginations of prominent strategists and journalists. Here are two rising Asian great powers with rapid economic growth, expanding global interests and modernising militaries
By Rory Medcalf
Educating for the Asian Century
Lowy Institute Executive Director Dr Michael Wesley delivered a speech entitled 'Educating for the Asian Century' on 6th April 2011 at the Educating for Asia Summit in Wellington, New Zealand.The speech can be read here
By Michael Wesley
The meaning of China
Lowy Institute Executive Director Dr Michael Wesley delivered a speech entitled 'The Meaning of China' at the New Zealand Principals Forum in Wellington, New Zealand, on 8th April 2011.The speech is available for download here
By Michael Wesley
The view north from Down Under
In an opinion piece in The Wall Street Journal Asia, Lowy Institute Director of Studies Andrew Shearer writes that Prime Minister Gillard's Northeast Asia tour is also an opportunity to consider what Australia and other countries in the region should not do.Wall Street Journal Asia, 25 April 2011, p
By Andrew Shearer
Gillard diplomatic skills tested during north Asia visit
In this opinion piece in The Sydney Morning Herald, the director of the Lowy Institute’s international security program, Rory Medcalf, analyses the diplomatic minefields that Prime Minister Julia Gillard will need to navigate on her visit to Japan, South Korea and China. Sydney Morning Herald, 23
By Rory Medcalf
SEA-blindness: why Southeast Asia matters
On 9 March 2011, Lowy Institute Executive Director Michael Wesley gave a speech at the East-West Center in Washington DC on the geostrategic importance of Southeast Asia, or the 'Indo-Pacific Peninsula'.The speech, 'SEA-blindness: why Southeast Asia matters', can be read here
By Michael Wesley
Leading in the Indian Ocean
In an opinion piece in The Wall Street Journal, Lowy Institute Director of Studies Andrew Shearer and Thomas Mahnken argue that Australia and the U.S. need to organise allies to maintain freedom of navigation in the Indian Ocean as regional rivalries heat up.The op-ed is available here.Wall Street
By Andrew Shearer
Secrecy and stratagem: understanding Chinese strategic culture
To cope with a rising China, other powers will need a close understanding of Chinese strategic culture. This paper seeks to identify the enduring features of Chinese strategic culture, assess their role in Chinese policy and consider their implications for the future posture and responses of the
By Thomas G. Mahnken
India, China and the United States: Asia emerging strategic triangle
In this contribution to the Lowy Institute's Strategic Snapshot series, leading Indian analyst C. Raja Mohan argues that the triangular dynamic among the United States, India and China will be critical to Asia's strategic future. He examines the complex pattern of power balancing and diplomatic
By C Raja Mohan
Between the clawing eagle and the ascendant dragon: the demise of the Philippines' policy of hedging
In the Lowy Institute's latest Strategic Snapshot, Professor Renato Cruz De Castro, of De La Salle University, Manila, explores the triangular strategic dynamic between the United States, China and the Philippines. While Manila has, like other countries in Asia, successfully navigated this
By Renato Cruz de Castro
The quiet achiever: Australia-Japan security relations
In the last decade, Australia has quietly and quickly become a close security partner to Japan, second only to the United States. For Australia, no security relationship outside the foundational alliance with the United States has deepened more in this same period. Despite changes of government and
By Malcolm Cook, Thomas Wilkins
Superpower China won't settle for second place
In an opinion piece in The Australian Financial Review, Lowy Institute Visiting Fellow Hugh White writes that for the sake of peace in Asia, China must be granted a leadership role, but it must accept that it can't have everything its own way.Australian Financial Review, 10 January 2011, p. 47
By Hugh White
Sino-Indian maritime relations: managing mistrust in the Indian Ocean
In the Lowy Institute's latest Strategic Snapshot, International Security Program Associate Ashley Townshend explores the strategic dynamics between China and India in the Indian Ocean. While the potential for rivalry exists, Mr Townshend argues that the combination of a skewed distribution of
By Ashley Townshend
Ruinous US-China relations the big danger from North Korea
In this opinion piece in The Age, Lowy Institute International Security Program Director Rory Medcalf argues that the greatest damage from the November 2010 North Korean bombardment could be to US-China relations and thus to peace among the great powers in Asia.The Age, 25 November 2010, p. 21
By Rory Medcalf
The next strategic frontier: emerging rivalries in the Indian Ocean?
On 28 October, two panels convened at AEI to discuss the emergence of the Indian Ocean as a key strategic space. The first panel focused on the potential for economic and political rivalries among regional players. Speakers debated whether the Indian Ocean is part of a larger pan-Asian system, what
By Andrew Shearer
Japan-China maritime relations: dealing with new dimensions
In the Lowy Institute's latest Strategic Snapshot, Dr Hiroyasu Akutsu explores the strategic dynamics animating the China-Japan maritime relationship, which is becoming dangerously militarised. Against a backdrop of shifting power balances, enhanced military capabilities and lingering territorial
By Hiroyasu Akutsu
Andrew Shearer interview: The Monocle
Lowy Institute Director of Studies Andrew Shearer was interviewed for The Monocle on Australia's ambitious defence spending plans.The interview can be heard at: http://www.monocle.com/the-monocle-weekly/edition76.aspxThe Monocle, Edition 76, 24 October 2010
By Andrew Shearer
Australia and Japan: ambivalent Asians, ambitious regionalists
Lowy Institute Executive Director Michael Wesley delivered a speech at the Australia-Japan Joint Business Conference in Brisbane on 11 October 2010. This Perspective is based on his speech, entitled 'Australia and Japan: ambivalent Asians, ambitious regionalists
By Michael Wesley
Australia relationships in the Asia-Pacific region
Executive Director Michael Wesley presented a speech at the ABC International Conference in Melbourne on 1 December 2009 on issues in Australia's relationships in the Asia-Pacific region.The speech can be read here
By Michael Wesley
Nuclear weapons and American strategy in the age of Obama
Did the 2010 US Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) get it right? In this Lowy Institute Analysis, Visiting Fellow Hugh White argues that – contrary to what has been widely assumed – the NPR does not significantly reduce the role of nuclear weapons in America’s strategic posture. In particular, it
By Hugh White
Little power, big choices: Australia strategic future
In the Lowy Institute's fourth Strategic Snapshot, Research Associate and Asia Security Project Coordinator Raoul Heinrichs explores the strategic challenges confronting Australia as shifting power balances in Asia produce new calculations among the region's major powers.Building on Power and Choice
By Raoul Heinrichs
Rudd Asian field of dreams: build it and they will come?
Andrew Shearer and Malcolm Cook published an article in the Southeast Asia Bulletin of the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) on Kevin Rudd's idea of an Asia-Pacific Community.The publication is available at: http://csis.org/files/publication/0809_southeastasia_bulletin.pdf
By Malcolm Cook, Andrew Shearer
Asia maritime security is all at sea
In an opinion piece in The Australian, International Security Program Director Rory Medcalf warns that China and its neighbours lack even the basic maritime rules that kept the Cold War cool. This article is based on the recent Strategic Snapshot Decisions and Destinies: Asian Security in 2010,
By Rory Medcalf
Resumption of Six Party Talks
In this panel discussion on China Radio International's Beyond Beijing program, Research Associate and Asia Security Project Coordinator Raoul Heinrichs explores the future prospects for the Six Party Talks, and for security on the Korean Peninsula
By Raoul Heinrichs
As China rises, we must look beyond the U.S. alliance
In an opinion piece in The Australian, Lowy Institute Visiting Fellow Hugh White argues that, as China grows, a new order can be built in Asia that accommodates its power peacefully and preserves a vital role for America, including a strong US-Australia alliance.The Australian, 13 September 2010, p
By Hugh White
Decisions and destinies: Asian security in 2010
In the Lowy Institute’s third Asia security 'Strategic Snapshot', Program Director for International Security Rory Medcalf assesses how recent security choices in Asia – especially at sea – could have long-term consequences for peace or conflict. Looking at recent events in light of Power and
By Rory Medcalf
Wednesday Lunch at Lowy: Between Beijing and Washington - Hugh White presentation
At the Wednesday Lunch at Lowy on 15 September, Professor Hugh White spoke about Australia's choices as China grows. Hugh White is a Visiting Fellow at the Lowy Institute for International Policy and Professor of Strategic Studies at the Australian National University
By Hugh White
Subtlety would help India rival China clout
In an opinion piece in The Australian, International Security Program Director Rory Medcalf argues that New Delhi must be assertive without provoking Beijing.An earlier version of this article was published in The Wall Street Journal on 3 September 2010.The Australian, 7 September 2010, p. 12
By Rory Medcalf
India must master the great game
India needs to stay cool in the face of diplomatic and security provocations by China, argues International Security Program Director Rory Medcalf in this opinion piece in The Wall Street Journal. Through development, deterrence and diplomacy New Delhi can be prepared for looming rivalry.The Wall
By Rory Medcalf
America grand strategy in Asia: what would Mahan do?
In the Lowy Institute’s latest Asia security ‘Strategic Snapshot’, distinguished American Asia scholar and former senior White House official Dr Michael J. Green examines Asia’s changing power dynamics and asks what grand strategy 19th century geo-strategist Alfred Thayer Mahan, the father
By Michael J Green
Cheonan choices
The Lowy Institute’s MacArthur Foundation Asia Security Project is releasing a new publication series, ‘Strategic Snapshots’. The first Snapshot, Cheonan Choices, by Andrew Shearer and Malcolm Cook, highlights the strategic implications of North Korea’s sinking of the South Korean warship
By Malcolm Cook, Andrew Shearer
Wednesday Lunch at Lowy: U.S. engagement with a rising Asia - Dr Robert Sutter presentation
Based on research including consultations with 180 officials in ten Asia-Pacific countries over the past six years, this careful and balanced assessment of the strengths and limitations of Asia’s rise, notably the rise of China, along with the strengths and weaknesses of the United States and its
By Robert Sutter
The APC is a dead parrot
In an opinion piece published on Caixin Online, Andrew Shearer argues that the concept of an Asia Pacific Community as proposed by Kevin Rudd is now defunct, but that Australia has a strong record of institution-building in Asia which should be continued.Caixin Online, 20 July 2010
By Andrew Shearer
Wednesday Lunch at Lowy: The Millennium Development Goals in Asia and the Pacific - Minar Pimple presentation
At the Wednesday Lowy Lunch Club on 16 June, distinguished international speaker Minar Pimple addressed the Club on the important question of how well the Asia-Pacific region is doing in achieving the Millennium Development Goals and what role we and broader civil society can play in helping to
By Minar Pimple
Power and choice: Asian security futures
This paper sets the foundation for the Lowy Institute’s MacArthur Asia Security Project. It outlines four regional security futures, the strategic dynamics and political choices that could give rise to each of them, and their implications for the region’s security architecture. It then examines
By Malcolm Cook, Rory Medcalf, Andrew Shearer, Raoul Heinrichs
India ahoy
In this opinion piece in The Wall Street Journal (Asia), International Security Program Director Rory Medcalf argues that India needs to sustain its smart naval diplomacy to manage tensions as China’s role increases in the Indian Ocean.Wall Street Journal, 29 April 2010
By Rory Medcalf
Conference Report: Asia’s Nuclear Future
In February 2010 the Lowy Institute co-hosted a major international workshop on Asia’s Nuclear Future with the US-based Non-Proliferation Policy Education Centre. Leading experts and security practitioners from the United States, China, Japan, India, Pakistan and Australia had a candid exchange of
By Lowy Institute for International Policy
Does Obama care about Asia?
In an article in The Daily Beast, Dr Michael Fullilove, Program Director Global Issues, writes that Obama has a chance to become the first truly Pacific president.The Daily Beast, 19 March 2010
By Michael Fullilove
Wednesday Lunch at Lowy: Asia pivots - Dr Malcolm Cook presentation
At the Wednesday Lunch at Lowy on 3 March, Dr Malcolm Cook, Program Director East Asia, spoke on how Asia's continental and horizontal dimensions are reasserting themselves - in ways that question Australia's place in Asia
By Malcolm Cook
Japan is crucial to our future
In an opinion piece in The Australian Financial Review, Lowy Institute Visiting Fellow Hugh White argues against the Rudd Government's antagonising Japan over the issue of whaling. Australian Financial Review, 24 February 2010, p. 63
By Hugh White
Will America defend its Asian allies?
In an opinion piece in The Wall Street Journal, Andrew Shearer, Director of Studies and Senior Research Fellow at the Lowy Institute, analyses the Pentagon's recently-released 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review and comments on some of the implications for America’s allies in Asia. Wall Street
By Andrew Shearer
Don't sacrifice relations with Japan over whaling
Andrew Shearer warns that Tokyo is not innocent, but that our response is provocative, pointless and downright dangerous. The Spectator, 23 January 2010, p. ix
By Andrew Shearer
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