Asia Rising

The message conveyed by global media can be a powerful one, useful in influencing public perception and shaping politics, local media and information environments.

Controlling the media narrative, usually through influence or your own state-run outlets, is of great interest to China. The superpower is actively seeking to insert itself into many other countries’ elections, social media, media, and overall politics.

Guest: Joshua Kurlantzick (Senior Fellow for Southeast Asia Council on Foreign Relations and author of Beijing's Global Media Offensive: China's Uneven Campaign To Influence Asia and the World)

Recorded on February 16, 2023.

A recent UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report found global sea levels have been rising at an accelerated rate.

For the small island nations of the Asia Pacific this is sobering news, but even for larger nations, lets take Indonesia, there are significant consequences. As an archipelagic state with more than 17,000 islands stretching over 80,000 kilometres of coastline, it should be alarmed by the implications.

One issue is that your water territory, your exclusive economic zone (or EEZ) is measured as a distance from your coastline. And if your coastline changes, be it through rising sea levels or land reclamations, that has implications for you, your resources and your neighbours.

Guest: Assistant Professor Tara Davenport (Deputy Director, Asia-Pacific Centre for Environmental Law, National University of Singapore).

Recorded on 28th November, 2022.

There are around 170 Indigenous languages spoken in the Philippines, as well as speakers of English, Spanish and several Chinese languages. Most people are multilingual, with more than 90 percent of the population speaking one or more language.

Guest: Professor Tuting Hernandez (Department of Linguistics, University of the Philippines)

Recorded on 22 November 2022.

Australia’s relationships in and with Asia and the Pacific is a perennial feature of debates about its foreign and defence policy and how it projects its sense of identity on the world stage. In recent years Australia’s interaction with major powers have become much more complex. As Australia reconceptualises future directions in dealing with allies and neighbours, and its position in Asia and the Pacific more broadly, what lessons does history offer?

What forces have influenced Australia’s role on the world stage both historically and today? What is the future direction of Australia’s foreign relations? How should we reposition what we know about Australia’s international relations and its Asia engagement for an increasingly contested future?

This event is the Melbourne launch of the book Australia on the World Stage (edited by Benjamin T Jones, Bridget Brooklyn and Bec Strating).

Panel:

Wesa Chau (Founder and CEO, Cultural Intelligence)

Dr Benjamin T Jones (History, Central Queensland University)

Dr Michael O’Keefe (Politics, La Trobe University)

Dr Nicholas Ferns (History, Monash University)

Associate Professor Bec Strating (Director, La Trobe Asia)(Chair)

Recorded on 21 March, 2023

What pressures will the Russian invasion of Ukraine put on Asia? How will China recover post-covid? Will the Quad and AUKUS change power dynamics in the region?

To celebrate the 200th episode of Asia Rising, a special recording to discuss the news, views and general happenings of Asian states and societies in 2023.

Guests:

Professor Nick Bisley (Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, La Trobe University)

Assoc. Professor Bec Strating (Director, La Trobe Asia)

Recorded on 13 February, 2023.

The Gardens by the Bay are an iconic feature of Singapore, where they dominate every tourist photograph with their towering tree-like structures. Now celebrating their tenth year, they're an emblem of the success of the greening of the city.

Guest: Felix Loh (Chief Executive Officer, Gardens by the Bay)

Recorded on 28 November 2022.

Indonesia has passed a new criminal code, amongst which are a raft of controversial new morality laws and speech restrictions, including banning sex outside of marriage, insulting the president, and expressing any view that runs counter to state ideology.

There are important implications for democratic freedoms in Indonesia, and human rights concerns on the implications of for women, religious minorities, and gender diverse groups.

What does the new criminal code imply for human rights in Indonesia? How has the Indonesian public responded to the new criminal code? What could it mean in the lead-up to the 2024 general election?

A La Trobe Asia event in collaboration with Human Rights Watch.

Panel:

Recorded on 7 February, 2023.

Xi Jinping has secured a historic third term as general secretary with unmatched political authority. This has given China a new drive to retain its position as a global superpower, and a desire to restore what Xi believes is China’s natural position of leadership in the world.

As China attempts to reassert itself after harsh covid-19 lock-downs, what is driving Chinese foreign policy under current President Xi. What is his vision for China in the world? And what are the implications of President Xi’s agenda for other states in the region?

An event to celebrate Professor Suisheng Zhao's new book :The Dragon Roars Back - Transformational Leaders and Dynamics of Chinese Foreign Policy", published by Stanford University.

Panel

Professor Suisheng Zhao (Director, Center for China-US Cooperation, University of Denver)

Dr Yangbin Chen (Coordinator, Chinese Studies Program, La Trobe University)

Dr Dan Hu (Research Fellow, Centre for Contemporary Chinese Studies, University of Melbourne)

Associate Professor Bec Strating (Director, La Trobe Asia)(Chair)

Recorded on 3rd Februrary 2023.

Singapore is a small country, highly reliant on commerce and trade, and with strong ties to China. This relationship can be at odds with other practices, for example: Its small military has an active conscription system. All citizens need to serve at least two years in the military, and their training bases are in Taiwan.

Guest: Associate Professor Ian Chong (Political Science, National University of Singapore)

Recorded 25th November 2022.

In 2022 The Philippines elected a new president, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, and with him came a pivot in international views, particularly towards China and the United States. The previous administration led by Rodrigo Duterte had embraced China and the development opportunities it had to offer, and while Marcos Jr might continue this, it might be with slightly less enthusiasm.

Guest: Professor Aries Arugay (Political Science, University of the Philippines)

Recorded 23rd November 2022.