In the science-fiction classic Dune, the natural resource of “spice” represents the most valuable commodity in the universe, found only on the desert planet of Arrakis. Spice serves various purposes in Dune, but in both movie adaptations of the novel, Baron Harkonnen, former ruler of Arrakis, summarises its importance with the line: “He who controls the spice, controls the universe.” While Dune has its share of spice, Earth contains its own spice rack, stocked with resources and commodities offering opportunities for those who control them and threats for those who do not. One state that has ..read more

A couple of months back, 70-year-old housewife Masi Zainab asked a charismatic local political leader, Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman Baloch, to help mount a protest for the rights of the citizens of Gwadar, a port city in southwestern Pakistan. Within weeks, Masi Zainab was marching with thousands of women on the streets of the city, a first for this conservative society. Responding to the call, Rehman launched a sit-in protest on 15 November. The protest has gained global media attention because Gwadar represents both the starting point and centre stage of China’s Belt and Road projects in Pakis ..read more

On 16 September, China officially applied to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) comprising Australia and 10 other members. The free-trade pact is the most extensive in the region, and accounts for almost 14 per cent of global GDP. Before pulling out in 2018, the US originally led the agreement’s design with a view to countering elements of China’s state-dominated economy through transparency requirements and disciplines against state-owned enterprises (SOEs). The goal was to embed a 21st century rules-based trading system in the region. Chin ..read more

Export control policy in the semiconductor sector – an industry that supplies the world’s computer, smartphone, appliances and medical equipment industry with electronic chips – was at the forefront of Donald Trump’s tech war against China. The addition of China’s top chipmakers, such as Huawei and the Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC), to the US Department of Commerce’s “entity list” between 2019 and 2020 brought an abrupt stop to the two countries’ technological cooperation. Beijing’s response was a vow to achieve self-sufficiency in semiconductors by 2030. Joe Bi ..read more

Originally published in the Sydney Morning Herald.  Is Featured:  No Publication Type: Commentary Issue: Australia and Asia China's Economy China-Australia Relations Chinese Trade Trade and Investment in the Asia Pacific Australia in the World Australia Australia's Economy Australia's Trade Global Economy Australian trade, investment & economy Trade Full Article:  Content:  The federal government has vetoed Victoria’s controversial Belt and Road agreement with China. China’s embassy has predictably warned this will only cause bilateral relations, already de ..read more

China’s yearly National People’s Congress (NPC), which convened last week in Beijing, generated more attention than usual. Most of the headlines focused on the confab’s decisions to impose additional electoral restrictions in Hong Kong, a predictable but nonetheless dismal further deterioration in that city’s political vitality. But amid the news about Hong Kong, economic growth targets for 2021, and self-congratulation for weathering the Covid-19 pandemic, the NPC also approved an ambitious economic agenda for the next 15 years. In particular, the assembled delegates endorsed the new “d ..read more

Beijing's tactic of using trade as a political stick against Australia will not impress the rest of the world. Originally published in the Australian Financial Review. Is Featured:  No Publication Type: Commentary Issue: China China-Australia Relations Chinese Trade Australia's Trade Full Article:  Content:  It is getting hard to believe China’s leaders when they say the country "will hold high the banner of free trade and multilateralism". China has paraded the ASEAN-led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, and this week Xi Jinping floated the idea of  ..read more

In this episode of COVIDcast, Richard McGregor, Lowy Institute Senior Fellow, sat down with Shivshankar Menon to discuss the latest currents in Chinese foreign policy, particularly its tense border stand-off with India.  Shivshankar Menon is an Indian diplomat who served as National Security Adviser and Foreign Secretary, and also as Ambassador to Pakistan, China and Israel.  COVIDcast is a Lowy Institute pop-up podcast for anyone interested in understanding the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on global politics. In each episode, Lowy Institute experts and invited guests discus ..read more

Australia's relations with China seem to be reaching new lows each week, with a proliferation of disputes over everything from trade to the media to COVID-19 to universities. On Thursday 24 September, the Lowy Institute hosted a live online event featuring the ABC's Bill Birtles and the Australian Financial Review's Michael Smith, both recently advised by the Australian government to leave China, along with Kirsty Needham, formerly of the Sydney Morning Herald and now with Reuters, for a discussion of the bilateral relationship. The discussion was moderated by the Lowy Institute's Senior Fell ..read more

Seven experts debate China’s approach to the rules‑based international order Cover Image:  Is Featured:  Yes Publication Type: Interactives Issue: Chinese Foreign Aid China China and the Pacific China's Economy China's Government China's Military China-Australia Relations Chinese Trade Trade and Investment in the Asia Pacific Australia's Defence Challenges Australia's Economy Australia's Trade Australian Diplomacy Cyber Security Cyber Warfare Emerging Threats Foreign Policy Trade US Economy WTO International Relations United Nations International Economy Regional relations ..read more