September
- Opinion
- Opinion
Australia is on the map but not on the minds of South-East Asia
Greater economic engagement with South-East Asia is needed not only for Australia’s sustained prosperity but also for its political clout as a bona fide Asian power.
- Kyung-wha Kang
Be bold on Asia or miss out, business leaders warned
Australian businesses’ narrow focus on China and North Asia means they are struggling to keep pace with the billions of investment dollars pouring into South-East Asia.
- Updated
- Jessica Sier, Andrew Tillett, Angela Macdonald-Smith and Peter Ker
August
US military eyes escorting Philippine ships in South China Sea
The head of the US Indo-Pacific command said he was open to discussions about escorting Philippine ships amid growing clashes with China in the disputed waters.
- Jim Gomez
- Opinion
- East Asia Forum
Australia should focus on rules, not ‘rules-based order’, in Asia
Support for the transition from a US-led world to a multipolar world is gaining traction.
- Anthony Milner
June
Premier Li Qiang’s visit has Malaysia wanting more from China pivot
The absence of President Xi Jinping, who sent his number two in his place, has dejected some in the government, according to Malaysian officials and observers.
- Kathrin Hille and Mercedes Ruehl
- Opinion
- East Asia Forum
History will judge the new era of US protectionism harshly
The unseemly contest by Joe Biden and Donald Trump to outdo each other in trade protectionism will make the world become less prosperous and more unpredictable.
- Gary Hufbauer
March
- Opinion
- Foreign relations
Australia’s under-investment in ASEAN is about them, not us
South-East Asian nations need to become attractive to foreign investors through deregulation and establishing independent and incorruptible legal systems.
- Alexander Downer
- Analysis
- Climate policy
Indonesia is still a tricky proposition for foreign investors
The Albanese government has promised $2 billion to help mitigate perceived and actual risk across South-east Asia. But that’s not a straightforward task.
- Emma Connors
Koalas, curveballs and China: Walking a fine line in SE Asia
The ASEAN summit underlined that the region is trying to steer a middle course between China and the US. The last thing it wants is to be backed into a corner and made to choose.
- Andrew Tillett
Western silence on Gaza proves global order ‘self-serving’: Anwar
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim contrasted demands for China to abide by maritime law or Russia to withdraw from Ukraine with the West staying ‘utterly silent’ on Israel’s actions in Gaza.
- Andrew Tillett
China warns against ‘outside’ meddling in South China Sea
Foreign Minister Wang Yi says China had exercised a “high degree of restraint” during maritime clashes in the disputed waterways.
- Michael Smith
Top law firms eye big growth in South-East Asia strategy
Australian lawyers say work in the region suffers from a perception problem, despite the complex, high-value deals emerging from fast-growing markets.
- Maxim Shanahan
- Opinion
- The AFR View
ASEAN summit a worthwhile investment of Australia’s soft power
But the optics of forging stronger links with the nations of South-East Asia were undercut by the unprecedented and unedifying intervention by Paul Keating.
- The AFR View
- Analysis
- Analysis
Sense of urgency as Australia finds its true international identity
There is a meaning to be extracted from the ASEAN summit for Australia’s international identity.
- James Curran
ASEAN pulls punches on China, Russia, Taiwan
South East Asian leaders watered down strident criticisms of China, omitted any reference to Taiwan, and stripped out a demand for Russia to withdraw from Ukraine in their final statement.
- Phillip Coorey and Andrew Tillett
Keating slammed by Labor, Libs over Wong, ASIO attack
Treasurer Jim Chalmers, who considers Paul Keating a mentor, says the ex-PM is wrong about Penny Wong and spy boss Mike Burgess.
- Andrew Tillett and Phillip Coorey
- Opinion
- BOSS
Why the real ASEAN action happens on the sidelines
Peripheral conversations and persona; connections, rather than grand speeches and grandstanding, are what drive real change, the Asia Pacific CEO of Fujitsu says.
- Graeme Beardsell
New measures will help business assess sovereign risk in SE Asia: PM
Anthony Albanese says it is no longer a “one size fits all” approach to investing in a region, parts of which have a history of political volatility and corruption.
- Updated
- Phillip Coorey
- Updated
- Foreign relations
Singapore backs AUKUS subs as Keating rocks summit
Singapore has backed the Albanese government over the AUKUS deal, undercutting former prime minister Paul Keating’s claim Australia was at odds with the region.
- Updated
- Andrew Tillett and Phillip Coorey
Singapore and Australia are nations built on aspiration, say PMs
This is an edited transcript of a press conference held by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Hsien Loong, at the ASEAN summit in Melbourne.