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Ben PackhamForeign affairs and defence correspondent

Ben Packham is The Australian’s foreign affairs and defence correspondent. He has been a journalist for more than 25 years and is the 2024 recipient of the prestigious Lowy Institute Media Award.

@bennpackham

Ben Packham

Latest

Defence

Chinese military vehicles carrying DF-21D anti-ship ballistic missiles travel past Tiananmen Gate during a military parade to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II in Beijing Thursday Sept. 3, 2015. REUTERS/Andy Wong/Pool TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

China military advances ‘pose a higher threat’

Australia needs to counter growing Chinese military advances in missile, cyber and space technology, new research says.

Ben Packham

exclusiveDefence

Australia's Minister for Defense Linda Reynolds speaks during a press conference at the US Department of State following the 30th AUSMIN on July 28, 2020, in Washington, DC. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski / POOL / AFP)

Legal aid for war crimes defence

Taxpayers will fund the legal defence of special forces veterans facing war crimes charges under new advice agreed to by Linda Reynolds.

Ben Packham

exclusiveNation

Professor Ross Babbage, in front of a map showing terrorism trouble spots. Babbage teaches strategy and defence response to terrorism at the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra 20/11/02.

China’s power ‘already peaked’

A new paper argues China’s slowing economy, national debt and ageing population suggest its rise as a global power may have already peaked.

Ben Packham

CoronavirusPolitics

Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister James Marape arrives for the Leaders Retreat at the Pacific Islands Forum in Funafuti, Tuvalu, Thursday, August 15, 2019. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas) NO ARCHIVING

PNG bans Chinese workers, demands vaccine answers

PNG acts swiftly over claims by a Chinese miner that 48 of its employees were immunised against COVID-19.

Ben Packham

exclusivePolitics

China testing its vaccine in PNG

A Chinese mining company in Papua New Guinea claims to have immunised its employees against COVID-19.

Ben Packham

ExclusivePolitics

Supplied photo of Allan Gyngell, Executive Director of the Lowy Institute at the Pacific Friends of The Global Fund Launch in Sydney on Monday Feb. 23, 2009. The group aims to raise awareness for the regional work of the fund, an organisation set up to combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in the Pacific region. (AAP Image/Peter Morris) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Embassy jobs axed in DFAT overhaul

Australia’s busiest overseas posts including Beijing, Port Moresby and Jakarta have been targeted for job cuts by DFAT.

Ben Packham

Politics

Sgt Hekmatullah, the Afghan soldier who murdered three Australian troops. Sgt Hekmatullah murdered Lance Corporal 'Rick' Milosevic, Sapper James Martin and Private Robbie Poate as they were relaxing on a remote patrol base in Uruzgan province in late August 2012. Picture courtesy of Four Corners

Diggers’ killer: bid to block release

The scheduled release of 400 Taliban prisoners has stalled amid last-ditch efforts to keep some of the highest-profile killers behind bars.

Ben Packham

exclusivePolitics

Businessman Andrew Forrest of the Minderoo Foundation addresses the media at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Offices in Melbourne, Wednesday, April 29, 2020. Australia has secured an extra 10 million COVID-19 test kits and pathology equipment through a partnership between the federal government, businessman Andrew Forrest's Minderoo Foundation and private Pathology providers. (AAP Image/James Ross) NO ARCHIVING

FOI request on Forrest’s China deal denied

Health officials have refused to release correspondence with Andrew Forrest’s private foundation on its role in sourcing 10 million coronavirus tests from China.

Ben Packham

EXCLUSIVENation

Prime Minister Scott Morrison holds a one on one meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe from Japan at the G7 Summit in Biarritz, France on Sunday, August 25, 2019. Picture: Adam Taylor/PMO

Morrison plans Japan trip

Senior Australian and Japanese officials have discussed a visit as the region’s democracies boost co-operation to counter China.

Ben Packham

ExclusiveDefence

Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Resources, Joel Fitzgibbon holding a doorstop at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture Kym Smith

‘Top brass can’t duck war crime scandal’

Two former defence ministers say military leaders must be held to account if special forces soldiers are found to have committed war crimes.

Ben Packham

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/ben-packham/page/184