Aussie journalists depart China (and other bilateral tensions); Foreign Relations Bill; Abe's legacy; Tony Abbott

Supply problems at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic sparked concerns about fragile pharmaceutical supply chains. Australia must consider how it can drive forward its domestic industry while also being a strong voice for regional cooperation.

The foundation ceremony for the Ram temple at Ayodhya in northern India represents the culmination of a three-decade campaign by the Bharatiya Janata Party. The ensuing debate over Indian secularism has elided the role of the Supreme Court in contributing over the years to the idea of a unified Hinduism.

This week in Australian foreign affairs: Payne’s statement on consular support for Australian journalists in China; the announcement of several diplomatic postings; DFAT’s new Hardship Program for Australian citizens struggling to return from overseas; and more.

Intensifying tensions and the resurgence of nuclear debates in the Asia-Pacific will have profound and uncertain implications for war and peace in the 21st century. In this era of strategic uncertainty dominated by nuclear-armed giants, middle powers are thinking about how to avoid subjugation without a nuclear deterrent of their own.

President Trump’s recent threats against TikTok align with the US government’s broader strategy to maintain its comparative advantage over surveillance of its citizenry. This is not a moral panic, rather it is an(other) example of realpolitik in the pursuit of national interest in the age of surveillance capitalism.

The recent coup d’état in Mali exposes the country and the wider region to the burgeoning threat of jihadi terrorists. But it also provides an opportunity for the installation of a new, democratically elected government to further peace and stability.

As the US presidential elections draw nearer, a second term seems increasingly likely for Donald Trump.  Speeches delivered at the Republican National Convention showcased the gaining traction of the Trump campaign.

The people of West Papua, Indonesia have been sold down the river by international politics. They are now fighting ever more ferociously for their independence, according to John Martinkus. 

The abrupt resignation of Prime Minister Abe Shinzo due to poor health has sent shockwaves across the political landscape. This has raised concerns about the implications for Japan’s economy and foreign policy.