In Asian media this week: Disaster survivor says she wishes she had died. Plus: Macabre dispute over Pakistan protest deaths; Trump’s new term crisis time for AUKUS: Martial law becomes South Korea’s democratic moment; Fentanyl America’s problem, says Beijing; Women’s freedom means no going back on population decline.

Forty years on, no justice for Bhopal victims – Asian media report

The impeachment of South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, following his reckless declaration of martial law, would be a valuable example of how democracies should deal with those who abuse the powers of their office writes Aziz Huq.

South Korea’s impeachment battle Is democracy in action

Donald Trump’s foreign policy is likely to fit within an old American tradition that is neither activist nor isolationist – with significant implications for Asia, writes Joseph S. Nye, Jr.

Anticipating Trump’s foreign policy

As Donald Trump promises tougher across-the-board trade tariffs, Vietnam likely will be one country especially in his sights, writes Nguyen Khac Giang.

Vietnam, China and rerouting: When perceptions matter as much as reality

Amid concerns over China’s rise, European countries are turning their gaze to Asia. Former diplomat John McCarthy says regional players like Japan and Australia must work with the Europeans to ensure the new Biden Administration gives more policy weight to the region, and especially Southeast Asia. 

Europe's back

This year the United Nations marked the 50th anniversary of the entry into force of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT). But, as Professor Emeritus Ramesh Thakur, a renowned expert on nuclear control regimes, notes there is little to celebrate and even less to be optimistic about as the risks of nuclear war persist, especially in the Indo-Pacific. Some bold new thinking is required. 

Crisis and stability in nuclear triangle 

A dangerous assumption has long been made, perhaps innocently, in Canberra’s formulation of China policy that sufficient Australia literacy is in place in China to avoid disastrous misunderstanding and miscalculation, writes Diane Hu. 

China Australia literacy

Indonesia’s presidential candidates have had little to say on foreign policy. But whoever is sworn-in as President this year will face one of the most challenging international environments to confront a new Indonesian administration.

Indonesia missing debate

While the warming China-Russia partnership poses challenges for the Western-led international order, India faces its own dilemmas in how to handle relations between an old rival and an old friend, write Arun Sahgal and Anshita Shukla. 

China Russia India

The rise of China necessitates the rise of Australian knowledge of China. As David S. G. Goodman writes, this knowledge is vital to our economic prosperity and national security.

China studies Australia future

Australia once had a vibrant cultural relationship with China. Michael Keane asks, could its revival help ease current diplomatic tensions? 

Can culture help

China’s 'Asian way' is an all-embracing idea and a coded language to discredit other countries’ actions that are deemed harmful to China’s strategic interests, writes Hoang Thi Ha. 

Building peace

A year after Australian academic Sean Turnell was arrested in Myanmar following the military coup, his fate within a politically controlled and opaque judicial system remains uncertain. Charlotte Galloway argues fresh diplomatic approaches might be required to secure his release. 

Bring Sean Turnell home

A calibrated engagement strategy helped end Myanmar’s military dictatorship in 2015 – the same is required today. 

Biden flawed Myanmar policy

At this week's US-China summit in San Francisco, the growing threat posed by the 'nuclear tinderbox' in Northeast Asia must not be ignored, write Susan Thornton and Joel Wit. 

Biden Xi North Korea

An annual survey of elite opinion in Southeast Asia points to the necessity and opportunity for Australia to lift its engagement with its immediate region. Asialink adviser Chen Chen Lee and Catherine Hooton argue that by working with like-minded powers Australia can expand ASEAN’s geostrategic options and help them avoid a binary choice between China and the US. 

Australia's strategic opportunity

Australia’s China problem—official contacts frozen and many of our exports under siege—is now gaining attention far beyond our shores. As former Australian foreign minister Gareth Evans AC writes, much of the world, given stark evidence of the economic havoc that China’s displeasure can wreak, and of the ugly depths to which its 'wolf warrior diplomacy' can descend, is trying to understand both how we fell into this hole, and whether we can climb out of it with our dignity intact. 

Australia China problem

With the trajectory of China’s economy — and many other dimensions of its power — shrouded in great uncertainty, finding the right policy response requires a more contested and open debate, writes Jane Golley. 

Australia's China policy

Australia still needs to invest in a credible self-defence policy because in foreign and strategic policy there are no 'forever' friends or allies, writes Asialink Chair and former Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Peter Varghese. 

AUKUS good plan B

Taiwan, a longtime source of tension between the US and China, could prove to be the driving force behind future conflict. And, as expert Alan Dupont writes, the ANZUS Treaty could force Australia into battle alongside its longtime ally and against its largest trading partner. 

ANZUS Taiwan

India is facing a humanitarian crisis from COVID-19. John McCarthy, a former high commissioner to New Delhi, says Australia must do its share to help with vitally needed supplies and allow Australians there to come home – even if it stretches our own resources.

Aiding India

In this webinar, panelists discussed the outcomes of the recent Quad Leaders' meeting: Can the Quad exert influence in the Indo-Pacific with ever-growing ASEAN centrality? How does the Quad complement or challenge other regional alignments?

QUAD Leaders webinar

Marking the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Australia and the Republic of Korea, this closed-door, by-invite only event examined key geopolitical and security issues facing Australia and the Republic of Korea in the Indo-Pacific region.

Australia-Republic of Korea Foreign Policy Dialogue

Asialink and The Chinese Institute for Innovation and Development Strategy engaged in a roundtable dialogue to discuss the China-Australia bilateral relationship, and the implications for business, media and government sectors.

Asialink Insights

Forty years on, no justice for Bhopal victims – Asian media report

South Korea’s impeachment battle Is democracy in action

Anticipating Trump’s foreign policy

Vietnam, China and rerouting: When perceptions matter as much as reality

Forty years on, no justice for Bhopal victims – Asian media report

South Korea’s impeachment battle Is democracy in action

Anticipating Trump’s foreign policy

Vietnam, China and rerouting: When perceptions matter as much as reality