11 November 2024

Modern slavery in Australia’s diplomatic heart: envoys’ abuse of domestic workers exposed

Court rulings have revealed harrowing stories of abuse and neglect at the hands of envoys operating under diplomatic immunity in Canberra.

13 July 2024

Australian journalist Cheng Lei says China bashing ‘worrying’

Cheng Lei, who was imprisoned in China for three years, says Australians should not overreact over every bilateral issue with Beijing.

4 July 2024

As Assange walks free, multifaceted threats to journalism and the truth are bigger than ever

Julian Assange’s case shows the danger of journalists being ensnared in legal entanglements when they do not play the power game.

29 May 2024

As China-Australia ties fray, should Canberra keep its friends close, its enemies closer?

If China is indeed a power to be worried about, wouldn’t Australia want to know as much about it as possible, perhaps even know what it is up to? Blocking or reducing interaction with China or other countries only reduces Australia to a petty, hollow state that is susceptible to misunderstandings.

10 February 2024

ASEAN can add momentum to Australias call for US-China detente

Australias former foreign minister Bob Carr and 49 others are supporting an appeal for easing of hostility between the two superpowers. The Asean leaders meeting in Melbourne could provide a platform for discussions on peace security and boosting areas of cooperation with China and the US.

3 December 2023

Australias AUKUS nuclear submarines could fuel regional arms race despite assurance

Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy says Australia is not worsening the arms race and gives assurance about the submarines nuclear reactors. The deal could still spark a defence build-up in Asia-Pacific while Australia lacks the facilities to deal with nuclear waste, analysts say.

13 May 2023

Australian expat accused of spying for China is no James Bond, was working innocently: lawyer

Alexander Csergo, accused of reckless foreign interference, is being held in a top-security jail cell in Australia. His case is a show trial, his lawyer says, which reflects an absolute hypocrisy in our approach to doing business with China.

26 March 2023

Australias climate targets could go up in smoke amid planned increase in coal, gas use: report

New research shows 116 new government-approved fossil fuel projects due to start before 2030 will emit 4.8 billion tonnes of emissions by then. That amount is vastly more than proposed reduction in emissions; clearly, Australias climate policies are not working.

15 May 2022

The drums of war refuse to stop beating down under

While the war over invisible enemies remains an imagination, another war is tearing through civil Australian society: that of discrimination, racism and unnecessary suspicion.

31 August 2021

US frozen beef exports to China surge at Australia's expense. Hardly protecting Australias back!

Australia's frozen beef exports to China have plunged since April, but the United States' exports keep rising flipping the trade pattern seen a year ago.

28 November 2020

China-Australia relations: ex-Australia foreign minister says Canberra must drop adversarial approach to fix frozen relationship (South China Morning Post Nov 24, 2020)

Only a herculean shift in foreign policy, a change of government or major external event will thaw a frozen relationship between China and Australia that has been damaged by a lack of diplomacy from Canberra that has compounded over the past three years, according to former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr.

9 November 2020

China tells Australia to reflect on its own deeds as it imposes new import bans (SCMP 6.11.20)

Chinese importers advised to stop buying Australian barley, sugar, red wine, timber, coal, lobster, copper ore and copper concentrates. Foreign ministry says moves are justified and blames Canberra for downward spiral in relations.

2 November 2020

Australias anti-China witch hunt isnt just harmful, it turns people against each other as governments escape scrutiny (SCMP Nov 1, 2020)

This isnt banter or trolling this is cancel culture that seeks to extinguish the opinions of those who dont conform to the view of certain politicians or media outlets. It is a phenomenon that has the ironic and harmful effect of undermining democratic values, including the right to free speech.

15 August 2020

China sympathisers: a new "Red Scare" stalks Australian businesses (SCMP HK 10.8.2020)

As anti-China rhetoric heats up down under, expressing support for one of the regions most important trade relationships has become a risky business. Right-wing manipulation of social media is fanning deeply ingrained racial prejudices and anti-communist sentiment, experts say