World Affairs
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Marwan Bishara: Why Israel hates the Palestinians so much
Israel’s hatred of the Palestinians is shaped and driven by three basic sentiments. Continue reading »
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Caitlin Johnstone: When will foreign leaders like Xi and Putin start asking to speak to America’s REAL Government and not Joe Biden?
Australia is becoming functionally just a US military base with kangaroos. Continue reading »
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Pelosi’s visit has brought the day of reckoning over Taiwan much closer
Australia’s most strenuous diplomatic efforts should be directed not at improving relations with China but at urging the US to pursue a different course. Continue reading »
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Indonesia’s unfinished business
Acknowledgements of Aboriginal land as preludes to formal events are now rarely contested, a belated acceptance that Australia has a bloody history that needs to be publicly discussed as a move towards reconciliation. Indonesia also has a grim past, but still shies from recognition – and healing. Continue reading »
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Peace needs to be waged!
Thank you, Bob Carr, for reminding us of the difference between a diplomacy of peace and a diplomacy of war (P&I, Aug 6, 2022). Continue reading »
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Paul Nicoll: Uncertainty and confidence in the Brazilian election
At this stage, it appears most probable that most will opt for Lula. Continue reading »
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The Pelosi provocation-“All Politics Is Local” – until it isn’t
Years ago, one of Nancy Pelosi’s most noteworthy predecessors as Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Tip O’Neill, uttered the famous phrase: “All politics is local”. These words may have been on Pelosi’s mind when she decided to go to Taiwan. Continue reading »
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Relentless violence against Palestinians in Gaza..
Forty-three Palestinians, including children, were killed in the Gaza Strip last weekend. If the situation was reversed and forty-three Israelis killed by rocket fire from Gaza, there would be far greater outrage. Continue reading »
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Who is provoking whom in the South China Sea?
The frequency and intensity of dangerous incidents between US and China militaries are increasing in the South China Sea and second-in-line to the US Presidency Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan doesn’t help ease the situation. But the U.S needs to pause and examine just who is provoking who and its contributions to the tension there. Continue reading »
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Is Bob Carr wearing rose coloured glasses? Neither Albanese nor Marles is behaving the way he says
It would be very comforting if Anthony Albanese and Richard Marles were adopting the ‘status quo’ stance regarding China’s aspirations in respect of Taiwan. Sadly, the evidence says the opposite, according some other recent P&I posts. Continue reading »
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China’s response to Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan. Western journalists just don’t understand
To those who love China, Nancy Pelosi must be the most hated person in their minds now. Continue reading »
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Hong Kong must not be swayed by the West’s demonisation of China
The spectre of geopolitical disruption is upon us. Hong Kong must not fall into the trap of pessimism. It must be ready to play defence as Western leaders seek to punish China for its success. Continue reading »
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The Rajapaksas – rotten to the core
Australian foreign policy and morality sunk to a very low point over its dealings with the Rajapaksa regime and demonisation of Tamil asylum seekers. Continue reading »
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Andrew Bacevich: American Imperium – Untangling truth and fiction in an age of perpetual US wars (Repost from 1/1/2018)
‘Republicans and Democrats disagree today on many issues, but they are united in their resolve that the United States must remain the world’s greatest military power. In its most benign form, the consensus finds expression in extravagant and unremitting displays of affection for those who wear the uniform. Considerably less benign is a pronounced enthusiasm Continue reading »
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Sameed Basha: Australia needs better terms with China, yet refuses to meet Beijing halfway
Australia’s government has rejected China’s proposals for improving ties, claiming to be looking out for its own national interests. In reality, Canberra still views Beijing through the lens of the US-China great power game, which can only hurt its economy while boosting America’s. Continue reading »
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Dr. Strangelove in the Ukraine – US strategy in the Cold War against Russia
The RAND Corporation is a US think-tank that describes itself as a research organisation ‘that develops solutions to public policy challenges to help make communities throughout the world safer and more secure, healthier and more prosperous.’ Continue reading »
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Kishore Mahbubani: The G-7, G-20 paradox
The G-7 countries are democratic domestically but are dictatorial globally. By contrast, the G-20 group, which has many autocratic regimes, represents a more democratic forum for governance. Continue reading »
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Pelosi visit-‘China wise not to attack plane’
Former US President Donald Trump, said the visit would “make trouble” and “cause great friction”. Continue reading »
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International politics is discussed so often in terms only of great power rivalry
Western countries are not the only actors, other countries can focus their resources and diplomatic priorities on addressing the real global challenges Continue reading »
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In the US you can’t witness an execution if your skirt is too revealing
Joe Nathan James Jr was executed by lethal injection on Thursday, against the wishes of his victim’s family. He was the eighth person to be put to death in the US so far this year, and the second from Alabama. Continue reading »
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In the ever deteriorating relationship with China, the mainstream media have a lot to answer for
Australia’s mainstream media seem determined to scuttle a reset of Australia-China relations. Continue reading »
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The goading of China continues day after day. Pelosi was just the most recent deliberate provocation
The path to war in Asia – crossing the Rubicon. Continue reading »
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Would Australian defence of Taiwan amount to the crime of aggression?
The Defence Minister’s Cabinet colleagues must be able to rely him on to provide authoritative guidance on the legal use of military force. The public has a right to expect his statements on international law to be meaningful and correct. Richard Marles has not demonstrated that capacity. Continue reading »
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What does China’s censor censor?
The Chinese trust their government media, but we distrust ours because they have, for so long, distracted us from important issues and lied to us about war. Lee Kuan Yew framed the issue around the Philippines’ media. Continue reading »
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What to do about the Treasure Island of Taiwan
“Sir, with no intention to take offence, I deny your right to put words into my mouth,” Captain Smollett said in Stevenson’s classic Treasure Island. 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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The Chinese Ambassador and our ignorant and hostile media
We should be alarmed, if not ashamed, at how some of these journalists behaved and reported. Continue reading »
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Is the Liberal Party abandoning war talk on China?
Is Dutton also preparing to shift ground? Continue reading »
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Does the US know what it is doing, and mean what it says, over Taiwan?
The Chairman of the US Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley, seemed quietly confident this week that Australia would be standing side-by-side with the US and Taiwan if China attempted to retrieve its errant and rebellious province by force of arms. Perhaps he knows something I don’t. Continue reading »
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Teow Loon Ti: Nancy Pelosi, the Straw that Taiwan clutched
Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, delivered a resounding slap to the face of Xi Jinping and left, leaving the Taiwanese to pick up the pieces of the damage she did to the Taiwan/China relationship. Continue reading »
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Moon of Alabama – How Pelosi’s visit hurts Taiwan
When Nancy Pelosi made her ‘woke’ flight to Taiwan the U.S. seemed to hope for a Chinese military reaction to it. It positioned an aircraft carrier and two amphibious landing ships in the region. It also shipped additional fighter planes to Japan and South Korea. Continue reading »
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Bob Carr – Keep the peace between China and the US: our goal
If there is conflict between the US and China this is how things might go- a crisis meeting of the Australian cabinet with a resigned air and desultory exchanges, until someone – defence minister or prime minister – says something like, “Well, there’s no alternative, is there?” Continue reading »
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