Asia Pacific

Australia’s one step forward, two steps back in the Pacific

While Australia is set to implement several meaningful labour mobility, security and diplomatic initiatives, simultaneously counterproductive domestically driven policies could undermine the ability of those programs to improve engagement with Pacific Island states.

Is the Indo-Pacific just a geographic region, or something more?

The Australian Government’s use of the terms ‘Indo-pacific’ and ‘rules-based-order’ have come under question at the Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific (CSCAP) meeting held recently in Perth.

Department of Pacific Affairs and University of Hawaii take lead on new ‘China in the Pacific’ volume

In early February 2019, DPA sponsored a series of writers’ workshops, as well as a public symposium, where academics were able to present their work on the topic to the public.

Bell School Professor elected President of the Asian Studies Association of Australia

Professor Edward Aspinall is elected President of Asian Studies Association of Australia.

Australian ambitions – regional reactions

Australia is promoting the 'Indo-Pacific' regional vision, with difficulty.

Vanuatu Minister of Internal Affairs discusses security issues

On 6 November 2019 Vanuatu’s Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. Andrew Napuat spoke about Vanuatu’s first National Security Strategy at a seminar hosted by the ANU Department of Pacific Affairs. Describing how Australia and Vanuatu are like family who stick together in times of both peace and need, the minister explained how one of the main instruments behind the security strategy is the Boe Declaration on Regional Security, signed by Pacific Island nations at the Pacific Islands Forum in September 2018.