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.
David's recent articles
5 May 2023
South Korea gains nuclear deterrent Asian Media Report
In Asian Media this week: South Korea nuclear guarantee better than NATO. Plus: Thaksin party just hangs on to poll lead; Asia tops world growth, with China the driver; Indian courts progressive sex-gender rulings; Russia sees AUKUS as NATO-style alliance; Asian war far worse than Ukraine; woman arrested over Thailand serial killings
21 April 2023
Thaksin party spurns coup-makers Asian Media Report April 22
In Asian Media this week: Shinawatra daughter aims to follow father and aunt. Plus: Rare diplomatic success on Taiwan; meet the new word for US bosses its allies; Indian government and court in same-sex showdown; EV rules block foreign competitors; estimates of big cat survival numbers.
7 April 2023
China weighing Taiwan risks Asian Media Report
In Asian Media this week: Japan crucial to deterring invasion. Plus: China says war would be defensive; Rahul Gandhi connects Modi and Adani; Next to Putin, Xi stands tall; Indonesia woos Tesla for EV plan; Asians reject hectoring Western politicians.
24 March 2023
Japan in diplomatic offensive Asian Media Report
In Asian Media this week: Japan woos Global South to counter China. Plus: Xis Moscow visit China plays it cool; Would Anglosphere nations welcome others in Aukus?; US Mid-East power waning; Sri Lanka gets aid, with conditions; media present differing views on China.
17 March 2023
On AUKUS, gallery journalists defend the line
In the Canberra press gallery, policy analysis takes second place to ephemeral politics, as highlighted by the response to Paul Keatings criticisms of the AUKUS submarine deal.
10 March 2023
Wave of war propaganda Asian Media Report
In Asian media this week: War talk means uphill battle to mend ties with China. Plus: US avoids a truthful narrative; South Korea to pay for Japans wartime abuse; rich countries, energy giants throttle poor nations; new terms active non-alignment and coalition of unwilling; sorry now the easy word.
24 February 2023
North Korea able to strike US mainland Asian Media report
In Asian Media this week: Pyongyang using Pacific as firing range. Plus: opposing views on Asian security; democracy-vs-autocracy a false division; Chinas population to plummet; Thailands global standing at low point; man-made threat to sea life.
10 February 2023
China containment line buttressed: Asian Media report
In Asian media this week - Taiwan key to first island chain control. Plus: US fosters belief war is inevitable; why the West thinks it speaks for the world; independence anniversary but nothing to celebrate; balloon saga shows why US must act tough; nothing can live in Manila Bay.
20 January 2023
Japans 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.
6 January 2023
2022 the year of 'de-Westernisation': Asian Media Report
In Asian media this week Indonesia to be an active ASEAN chair. Plus South Koreas global aspirations; Western and Asian views of the West; Anwar pledges to crack down on corruption; Softer tones in Taiwan rhetoric; Kishidas diminishing political capital.
16 December 2022
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.
4 November 2022
Asian Media Rule of law declining internationally
In Asian media this week: Cambodia retains sorry legal status
21 October 2022
In Asian media this week Xis 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.
7 October 2022
Asian Media - Chinese car makers go electric
In Asian media this week, new child sex abuse allegations against Timors 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; Courts arithmetic leaves Prayut in power; and Bongbongs weekend getaway goes viral
23 September 2022
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 Xis anti-corruption drive; regional grouping with global heft; AUKUS and longing for Western domination; Korea looks beyond K-pops success
9 September 2022
Asian media - the Bachelets report on Xinjiang went too far
In Asian Media this week a legal critique of the Xinjiang human rights report.
26 August 2022
David Armstrong's Asian Media this week small step for rights
Singapore, Hong Kong rule out same-sex marriage
12 August 2022
In Asian Media this week...The reckless Pelosi
Plan to stabilise US-China links; Beijings hand strengthened; tighter control over Taiwan; war not imminent.
29 July 2022
In Asia media this week
Myanmars 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; HKs latest status symbol.
15 July 2022
Asia media for July 16
In Asia media this week: Abes key Indo Pacific role; rules-based order questioned; Thailand-Myanmar military links; no end to Sri Lanka turmoil; China talks about trade issues.
24 June 2022
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.
10 June 2022
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 Bidens new economic grouping; Thailand legalises pot.
27 May 2022
In Asia Media this week: Chinas 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; Bidens new group only at talks stage; Japanese paper stresses peace; rainbow flag stirs up a reaction.
13 May 2022
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 troubled Colombo.
22 April 2022
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.
8 April 2022
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
25 March 2022
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
11 March 2022
Asian Media - New South Korea president closer to U.S., Japan
Ugliest South Korean presidential election, remembering Myanmar, Xis virtual tip-off and racial profiling of scientists in America
25 February 2022
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
11 February 2022
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.
28 January 2022
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.
14 January 2022
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.
10 December 2021
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.
26 November 2021
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.
12 November 2021
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.
3 November 2021
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.
14 January 2021
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
3 January 2021
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.
11 November 2020
Australia caught in a time warp
Contemporary Australia has some sorry echoes of a less-liberal past, especially as our relations with China continue to deteriorate