Writer
David Armstrong
David Armstrong is an Australian journalist and editor with decades of experience, including as editor-in-chief of The Australian, editor of The Bulletin and The Canberra Times and deputy editor the Daily Telegraph in Australia. He is also former editor and editor-in-chief of the South China Morning Post, former president of the Bangkok Post company, former chair of the Phnom Penh Post company and is current chair of ucanews.com.
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Japan’s military build-up met with suspicion, alarm: Asian Media Report
In Asian media this week: Developing world rejects nonsensical Cold War; Japan moves from ‘shield’ to ‘spear’; opinion against military build-up; court asked to review new penal code; vote-buying an investment in graft; and differing views of Xinjiang. Continue reading »
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2022 the year of ‘de-Westernisation’: Asian Media Report
In Asian media this week – Indonesia to be an active ASEAN chair. Plus – South Korea’s global aspirations; Western and Asian views of the West; Anwar pledges to crack down on corruption; Softer tones in Taiwan rhetoric; Kishida’s diminishing political capital. Continue reading »
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Asian Media Report: Japan scrapping military spending limit
In Asian media this week – Missile systems able to attack enemy bases. Plus: media question official defence line; new criminal code worries LGBTQ community; benefits of soft diplomacy; junta leaders economic illiterates; instant change in COVID rhetoric. Continue reading »
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Asian Media – Rule of law declining internationally
In Asian media this week: Cambodia retains sorry legal status Continue reading »
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In Asian media this week – Xi’s China narrative ‘largely true’
In Asian media this week: different views on what Xi said – and did not say – in his national party congress report. Continue reading »
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Asian Media – Chinese car makers go electric
In Asian media this week, new child sex abuse allegations against Timor’s Bishop Belo. Plus: India removes abortion rights discrimination; Facebook complicit in Rohingya ethnic cleansing; Chinese carmaker buys into Aston Martin; North Korea fires missile over Japan; Court’s arithmetic leaves Prayut in power; and Bongbong’s weekend getaway goes viral Continue reading »
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Asian Media this week, 24 September
In Asian media this week, Biden makes the Taiwan Strait more dangerous. Plus: Myanmar people flee tattered economy; political role key to Xi’s anti-corruption drive; regional grouping with global heft; AUKUS and longing for Western domination; Korea looks beyond K-pop’s success Continue reading »
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Asian media – the Bachelet’s report on Xinjiang went too far
In Asian Media this week – a legal critique of the Xinjiang human rights report. Continue reading »
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David Armstrong’s Asian Media this week – small step for rights
Singapore, Hong Kong rule out same-sex marriage Continue reading »
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In Asian Media this week…The reckless Pelosi
Plan to stabilise US-China links; Beijing’s hand strengthened; tighter control over Taiwan; war not imminent. Continue reading »
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In Asia media this week
Myanmar’s sickening political executions; a terrible ‘new normal’ in Sri Lanka; dictatorial democracies; ‘bananas’ a code for bribes; China hits out at ASPI; no consensus on Taiwan consensus; HK’s latest status symbol. Continue reading »
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Asia media for July 16
In Asia media this week: Abe’s key Indo Pacific role; rules-based order questioned; Thailand-Myanmar military links; no end to Sri Lanka turmoil; China talks about trade issues. Continue reading »
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The Asian Media this Week
Uncomfortable choices between US and China; support for stronger Japanese military role; Marles moves closer to India; Myanmar military oppression worsens; South Korea joins space race. Continue reading »
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In Asia Media this week, Albanese in Jakarta, the US-China stance, Thailand legalises pot, Biden’s economic framework
In Asia Media, Albanese wins enthusiastic coverage in Jakarta; new Indo-Pacific leaders work on US-China stance; Myanmar brings back hanging for dissidents; experts analyse Biden’s new economic grouping; Thailand legalises pot. Continue reading »
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In Asia Media this week: China’s official media calls for Australia and China to re-balance, Japan’s papers stress peace
In Asia Media this week: China mulls its Australian links; Beijing explains its Pacific Islands courtship; ASEAN people look to China; Bangkok finally holds an election for governor; Biden’s new group only at talks stage; Japanese paper stresses peace; rainbow flag stirs up a reaction. Continue reading »
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In Asia Media this week: New leaders and testing times in Seoul, Manilla and Hong Kong – and soon, perhaps, in troubled Colombo
In Asia Media this week: South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol took office, in Manilla Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos, son of the late ousted corrupt dictator, won the election in a landslide while in Hong Kong John Lee Ka-chiu, a former chief secretary and security minister, was the only candidate – and resignation of the leader in Continue reading »
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In Asian media: Sri Lanka crisis gets worse by the day
Sri Lanka crisis gets worse by the day Plus: Assault scandal unfolds in Thailand; moral leadership on Ukraine; Singapore to get new leader – sometime; the greying nation. Continue reading »
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In Asian Media: US links a key factor in Pakistan turmoil
Plus: India likes free movement of people; Taiwan learns from Ukraine; politics behind judges’ departure; Indonesia combats sexual violence; no tourists for cherry blossom time Continue reading »
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In Asian Media: Imran Khan hits turbulent point in Pakistan politics
In Asia Media: Blinken draws an admission from Myanmar; US has big problem in India; food security a looming concern; South Korea logs a sad COVID record; and HK food goes back to basics Continue reading »
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Asian Media – New South Korea president closer to U.S., Japan
“Ugliest” South Korean presidential election, remembering Myanmar, Xi’s virtual tip-off and racial profiling of scientists in America Continue reading »
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China, the US and Nixon’s legacy
In Asian media this week: Nixon, Mao and the Taiwan question; Dutch apology for violence in colonial Indonesia; HK battling to get to COVID-zero; no room for losers in Beijing 2022; and women beating men in Japan Continue reading »
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The drums of war that are heard so loudly in Canberra beat rather more softly in Asia.
As the Winter Olympics started, China and Russia spelled out how close they have come and Australian media slipped into their default attack mode. But not so in Asia, where the media response was more varied and more muted. Continue reading »
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In the Asian media: worrying population numbers for China
Elsewhere, a diplomatic rift ends, the blind spot in the climate change debate, an anti-corruption mystery, and insects on the menu. Continue reading »
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In the Asian media: what our media ignored; caution on China, a problem for ASEAN, and grief tourism
Around Asia, the newspapers are covering how to deal with China, ASEAN’s Myanmar problem, and a surprising side effect of the pandemic in Singapore. Continue reading »
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In the Asian media: democracy recession, Olympic boycott and Squid Game
Around Asia, the media is covering democracy conferences with scepticism, and the Olympic boycott with caution. Continue reading »
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What the Asian media are saying: ASEAN, JI returns, ping-pong diplomacy
Xi Jinping’s appearance at ASEAN this week, a question mark over China’s naval power, concerns about Jemaah Islamiyah rebuilding, and more news from our region. Continue reading »
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What the Asian media are saying: ASEAN, China powers up EVs, Japan’s inequality
Our US/UK centric media largely ignores Asia. But important and interesting things are happening- Cambodia will host ASEAN later this month, security between China and the US, and a spicy controversy in Korea. Continue reading »
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What Asian media are saying about COP26
In the Asian media, COP26 isn’t all about net zero plans and phasing out coal — our region is just as concerned with the potential potholes. Continue reading »
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Simple illustration of how our climate has changed
Climate change sceptics and doubters might be beyond persuasion but the Bureau of Meteorology has a plain bar chart that shows how our climate has changed Continue reading »
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Rethinking 2020: We should never forget it
For millions of people, 2020 was the worst of years. But it also showed humanity at its finest. At times, I find it tempting to want to wish away all memory of 2020. It was a sorrowful, depressing year. Tempting – but wrong. Continue reading »
