World Affairs
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Asylum seeker scam continues to drive down migrant workers’ rights
After sitting on the August 2021 report on asylum seekers for around a fortnight, Home Affairs Minister Alex Hawke at last allowed the report to be made public at the end of September. Continue reading »
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The Afghan paradox: China, India and the future of Eurasia after the fall of Kabul
The fall of Kabul may be more than a historical footnote. It may yet become a key stop on a New Silk Road being forged across the vast expanses and indomitable mountains of Central Asia. Continue reading »
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How the Australian public is short-changed on Israel and Gaza
This book is the story of why many editors and journalists in Australia are in fear of upsetting the pro-Israel lobby and therefore — in my view — self-censoring. Continue reading »
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Back to the future with the Taliban?
The defeat of the United States and its allies and return to power of the Taliban in Afghanistan have changed the regional landscape. Continue reading »
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China’s trade bid a chance to mend fences
Beijing can’t be happy with where its Australian relations have ended up. But Canberra should be wary of overplaying its hand. Continue reading »
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When a forest becomes a means of destruction: The Jewish National Fund, Greenwashing and COP26
In 1901, in Basel, Switzerland, a small group of Jewish men established an organisation which they named, portentously, the Jewish National Fund (JNF). Continue reading »
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Crossword clues and bullying: the almighty power of the Australian pro-Israel lobby
The influence of Colin Rubenstein and his lobby group does not just limit what mainstream media outlets dare publish, it forces self-censorship on editors and journalists alike, writes John Lyons in his latest book. Continue reading »
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Fumio Kishida, the colourless new Japanese PM
One incident more than any other tells us what we need to know about the just-elected leader of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), the rather colourless Fumio Kishida. Continue reading »
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Anti-China hysteria lies at heart of action against IMF’s Georgieva
IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva’s fall would prove the fund has mere trappings of multilateralism — leaving others to go their own way. ..Many in the US Congress want Georgieva out because she is not a sworn enemy of Beijing. Continue reading »
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US hostility towards Hong Kong exposed for all to see
In recent years, China’s achievements have surpassed all expectations, and the United States has become increasingly paranoid. Continue reading »
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That sinking feeling from Down Under: What does AUKUS mean for Asia?
The AUKUS deal confirms essentially that Australia opts to sink or swim with its rich Anglosphere few, rather than the global many. Continue reading »
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In competition between China and the US, Australian consumers choose China
Australia’s relationship with China involves many dimensions and Australia/China relations look a lot different from different perspectives. Continue reading »
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South Korea is critical to Australia’s next minerals boom
Urgent cooperation between the Australian and South Korean governments to craft a cohesive trade framework for critical minerals is at the top of the agenda for Australian companies looking to take advantage of the critical minerals boom. Continue reading »
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AUKUS: NZ happy to be left out of new alliance to protect its China trade
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said she wasn’t approached about joining the new AUKUS agreement and nor would she expect to be. But to be left in the dark by ANZAC mates about AUKUS is a dose of cold reality for NZ. Continue reading »
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When it comes to China, our media ‘experts’ need a lot of help
Since the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal our mainstream media experts have doubled down on the claim Beijing is expansionist. Since few of them can read or speak Chinese maybe I can help them. Continue reading »
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China’s challenges and its plan for common prosperity
China’s economy was the first to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, being the only major economy to post positive growth in 2020, but it now faces a number of headwinds. Continue reading »
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Don’t undermine the moral clarity of the fight against antisemitism
Giving the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition a special status it was never intended to have undermines the moral clarity of the fight against antisemitism. Continue reading »
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Prospects for Palestinian recovery
Large and unprecedented protests in support of the Palestinian cause this year have led to developments which should enable Palestinians to expand their freedoms. Continue reading »
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Crying wolf: How to stop talk of war with China
How might it be possible to stop talk of war with China? Are our civil and military leaders, and their loyal press simply “crying wolf”? Or is there a real and present threat that might justify war talk? Continue reading »
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AUKUS ruffles Australia-France-South-East Asia relations
In one of Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s first foreign policy speeches, he boldy asserted that regarding the struggle between the US and China for regional dominance, “Australia doesn’t have to choose”. Continue reading »
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Paul Keating: Morrison is making an enemy of China and Labor is helping him
The Liberals, having no faith in the capacity of Australians and all we have created here, could not resist falling back, yet again, to do the bidding of another great power, the United States of America. Continue reading »
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After initiating the coercion against China we are now with AUKUS in the front row in a new cold war.
Since we have decided to integrate our navy with America’s and be its ally in confronting China, we should expect to be viewed as an extension of a nuclear superpower and be targeted accordingly. Continue reading »
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With allies like these, Australia doesn’t need enemies
As Australia’s trade dispute with China continues, allies who have pledged solidarity with Australia have been moving into the trade spaces from which we’ve been evicted. Hardly ‘protecting our back’ as the US boasts. Continue reading »
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An Australian Story of Cruelty: the Biloela family
On Monday, former immigration minister Amanda Vanstone was wringing her hands on ABC TV. Not on behalf of the persecuted Biloela family, though. She was crying crocodile tears to defend a powerful, inflexible government. Continue reading »
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Anxious white men look to bonds of ‘blood and history’ in AUKUS
Apprehensive of loss, the leaders of white men’s countries are invoking pride of race to spruik the AUKUS alliance to secure their primacy of place over China in a fast-changing world. Continue reading »
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AUSMIN and AUKUS: It’s even worse than you think
Nothing exemplifies the loss of national sovereignty, and the abandonment of strategic autonomy, like handing the war decision over to the US. The submarine issue is simply a blind. AUKUS just a distraction. Continue reading »
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Mending a neighbourhood fence: Australia’s strategic partnership with France in the Pacific
There is more at stake for the French-Australian relationship in the Pacific than just money after Australia last week cancelled the $90 billion contract with France’s Naval Group to build new submarines. Continue reading »
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Genocide by big pharma. Millions will die
Big pharma is fiercely opposing measures to scale up production and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines around the world. This corporate genocide must be named. Stop protecting crooks. Continue reading »
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In Indonesia: Pray, don’t spray, papa’s hurt
Indonesian President Joko Widodo hasn’t gone so far as to ban outlets that publish unflattering portrayals — yet. Watch this space. Continue reading »
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Russian Duma elections mark a watershed moment in Russia-West relations
Russia, confident that it has seen off major US challenges to its sovereign independence, looks forward to its growing world role following significant elections on Sunday. Continue reading »
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