This Month
Trump tariffs send Chinese exports surging into Australia
Chinese manufacturers are pushing more goods into markets with lower trade barriers as shipments to the United States continue to shrink.
Trump sees China more as an economic rival than a military threat
The US is more inward-looking, more disdainful of multiculturalism and no longer a defender of democratic values. But it still has its eye on China.
‘Years in the making’: Why Chinese warships will keep heading our way
Another Chinese flotilla is moving south, underlining that Beijing’s presence near Australia is no longer an anomaly, but a strategic warning Canberra can’t ignore.
First images of Chinese flotilla reveal assault ship
A maritime surveillance company says a fleet of vessels being monitored by Defence indicated a significant projection of naval power.
November
China wants in on 6G build, says Beijing’s man in Australia
China’s plan calls for building a modernised industrial system, consolidating and enhancing the competitiveness of the country’s traditional industries.
China unveils record $86m gift to sink Albanese’s Pacific push
The grant to Vanuatu includes renovating the prime minister’s office and strengthens Beijing’s hand as Port Vila weighs signing a security deal with Australia.
October
Lynas warns China will starve rare earths projects of equipment
Managing director Amanda Lacaze says China is taking a nuanced approach to defending its rare earths dominance and will deny crucial consumables to new refineries.
Australia boosts Pacific aid as China outmanoeuvres US
The Lowy 2025 Pacific Aid Map shows Canberra is the largest regional donor, but Beijing is winning the diplomatic narrative as US funding cuts erode trust.
Gillard’s ‘Asian Century’ deadline is here. The results aren’t pretty.
Thirteen years after Julia Gillard’s white paper, which promised world-class schools, a simple tax system and an Asian language boom. None of it happened.
China likens Albanese’s US minerals pact to ‘warplane intrusion’
State media has linked the rare earths deal to last week’s South China Sea aircraft confrontation, calling it another show of loyalty to Washington.
PM’s minerals deal big enough to catch Beijing’s attention
For China, the investment accord with the US is a reminder that Australia is still walking what Beijing’s state media recently called a “two-faced” path.
The one word Albanese hopes Trump won’t utter in the Oval Office
Taiwan. The US sees Australia as a central base in any war against China, yet no political party in Australia has committed to participate in a war over Taiwan.
Australia’s spy plane steps up as Russia’s drones swarm Europe
An Australian early warning aircraft is returning home from Poland after operating during a heavy period of aerial warfare in the Russian-Ukraine war.
China issues rebuke over Australia-PNG treaty
The statement by Beijing’s ambassador to Papua New Guinea came as defence chiefs warned that China was becoming more assertive in the Pacific.
Australia and Papua New Guinea ink historic defence treaty
The new pact, which must be ratified by both parliaments, will bind the two nations to come to each other’s assistance in the case of an attack.
September
Albanese’s New York trip is his trial by fire in diplomacy
The prime minister must be assertive enough to protect Australia’s interests while avoiding any action that could poke the bear.
Major setback for PM as PNG defence treaty falters
Plans for Australia and PNG to sign a landmark defence treaty that would exclude China have failed to eventuate amid suspicions of interference by Beijing.
Has Albanese’s political football in Papua gone too far?
The prime minister has opted to focus on footy and not infrastructure to counter increasing Chinese influence in the Indo-Pacific region.
Australia set to sign ambitious defence treaty with Papua New Guinea
The deal comes amid concern over Beijing’s growing influence in the Pacific, and is timed to coincide with Anthony Albanese’s visit to Port Moresby this week.
Australian businesses must stop flying over Asia and start investing
Canberra must insulate the nation from the fallout of a potential power vacuum left by America.