Asia Rising

In recent years, as the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has grown in economic size, military strength and international influence, it has become more active in Antarctica. This has led to worries that Beijing’s ambitions extend further than just scientific research and fishing.

Concerns have been raised about the PRC wanting to exploit Antarctica’s mineral and fossil energy resources and militarise the continent. There has been speculation that the PRC is even planning to make its own territorial claims.

A La Trobe Asia event in collaboration with Australian Institute of International Affairs (AIIA) and China Matters to launch a new policy research report "China’s Antarctic ambitions - and their implications for Australia" by Yun Jiang.

Panel:

Recorded on 3 August, 2022.

There has been an escalation of tension between China, Taiwan and the United States in the wake of a visit to Taiwan by United States house speaker Nancy Pelosi, the first visit of such a rank in close to 30 years.

While the visit validates Taiwan’s democratic claims, it gives China an incentive to increase hostilities and increase tension in the region.

Guest: Professor Nick Bisley (Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at La Trobe University).

Recorded on 8 August, 2022.

In early 2022 the NGO Civicus added India to its watch list of countries of concern. In doing so it highlighted recent protest movements, arrests of academics, journalists and activists.

This discussion examines how India got to this position and the impact on people on the ground in India.

Speakers:

Professor Nandini Sundar (Sociology, Delhi School of Economics)

Dr Ian Woolford (Hindi Studies, La Trobe University)

Dr Gerald Roche (Senior Research Fellow, Politics, La Trobe University)

Recorded on 28th July, 2022.

The Indo-Pacific faces multiple security challenges, ranging from the risk of major war arising from territorial and maritime disputes to significant human and environmental threats to ecosystems.

Exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, many states remain at odds over governance issues, how to confront pressing regional disputes and how to deal with countries outside the Asian region seeking to have greater influence. While the role of existing regional institutions such as ASEAN remains central to regional security and prosperity, improved regional architecture will be needed to address maritime security challenges with a clear understanding of priorities across regional states.

What are the central maritime security challenges facing states in the region? How do they respond individually and collectively to these challenges? And what legal and institutional mechanisms exist to manage ongoing disputes?

Launch of the ‘Enhancing Maritime Security in the Indo-Pacific’ report, a collaboration between Griffith Asia Institute, Kings College London and La Trobe Asia.

Speakers:

Dr Huong Le Thu, Principal Fellow, Perth USAsia Centre

Assistant Professor Tara Davenport, Deputy Director, Asia-Pacific Centre for Environmental Law

Abhijit Singh, Senior Fellow, New Delhi-based Observer Research Foundation

Professor Ian Hall, Griffith Asia Institute, Griffith University (Chair)

Recorded on 25th July, 2022.

Indonesia has made impressive democratic gains since the fall of the authoritarian Suharto regime in 1998, and has long been praised as a ‘model Muslim democracy’.

But in recent years, the quality of Indonesian democracy has noticeably declined as the country continues to struggle with challenges to its democratic institutions and values, with systemic corruption and discrimination and violence against minority groups.

Guests:

Dr Ken Setiawan (Lecturer in Indonesian and Asian Studies, Asia Institute, University of Melbourne)

Associate Professor Dirk Tomsa (Head of Department of Politics, Media and Philosophy, La Trobe University)

Their book is Politics in Contemporary Indonesia: Institutional Change, Policy Challenges and Democratic Decline (Routledge, 2022).

Recorded on 15 July, 2022.

Australia has a strong alliance with America, one that has remained unwavering through changes of leadership and turbulent international developments.

While agreements such as AUKUS and the Quad have strengthened our position in the region, it has come at the cost of relations with other states and could in the future draw us into conflict.

Guest: Hugh White (Emeritus Professor of Strategic Studies at Australian National University)

Hugh's new Quarterly Essay is Sleepwalk to War: Australia’s unthinking alliance with America.

Recorded on 30 June, 2022.

The idea of gender mainstreaming in foreign policy is gaining traction across the world. Several countries such as Sweden, Canada, France, Mexico, Germany, Spain, Luxemburg, Libya, Chile, and most recently the Netherlands have announced Feminist Foreign Policies.

Other countries such as Australia, UK, Ireland, Argentina, may not have made formal Feminist Foreign Policy announcements yet, but are working towards understanding and integrating the gender and inclusivity lens in policy action according to their specific contexts.

Through this webinar, along with unpacking some of the core aspects of a Feminist Foreign Policy/gender mainstreaming in foreign policy, we seek to hear perspectives from Indo-Pacific countries, with the objective of adding more voices from the region to the growing global conversations.

Panel:

Dr Elise Stephenson (Research Fellow, The Global Institute for Women's Leadership, Fellow, National Security College, Australian National University)

Dr Soumita Basu (Associate Professor, Department of International Relations, South Asian University)

Dr Maria Tanyag (Fellow / Senior Lecturer, Coral Bell School of Asia-Pacific Affairs, Australia National University)

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

Opening remarks:

Hunter Marston - 9DASHLINE

Priyanka Bhide - Kubernein Initiative

Recorded on 13th July 2022.

The Catch.

A podcast miniseries about modern slavery and forced labour in the offshore fishing industry in the Asia Pacific Region.

Episode 6: Victim's Voices

The final episode of The Catch

Host: Dr Bec Strating (Executive Director, La Trobe Asia)

Guest: Dr Sallie Yea (Tracey Banivanua Mar Fellow, La Trobe University)

Produced by La Trobe Asia.

Australia has a strong alliance with America, one that has remained unwavering through changes of leadership and turbulent international developments. While agreements such as AUKUS and the Quad have strengthened our position in the region, it has come at the cost of relations with other states in the region and could in the future draw us into conflict.

Where does this leave our future security and prosperity in Asia? Is there a better way to navigate the disruption caused by China’s rise?

A Melbourne event to discuss Sleepwalk to War, a new Quarterly Essay by Hugh White.

Panel:

Recorded at the La Trobe University City Campus on 30th June 2022.

The Catch.

A podcast miniseries about modern slavery and forced labour in the offshore fishing industry in the Asia Pacific Region.

Episode 5: Support.

Episode 6 available now on all podcast platforms.

Host: Dr Bec Strating (Executive Director, La Trobe Asia)

Guest: Patricia Kailola (Human Dignity Group in Fiji)

Produced by La Trobe Asia.