TOPIC

Lowy Institute

Lowy Institute: An independent, non-partisan international policy think tank based in Sydney, Australia, the Lowy Institute is dedicated to providing fresh thinking on Australia’s international policy challenges and deepening public debate. It conducts high-quality research on global political, strategic, and economic issues, with a significant focus on the Asia-Pacific region. Recognised as Australia’s leading think tank, it publishes influential analyses, including the Lowy Poll and Asia Power Index, and hosts prominent national and international figures, significantly contributing to Australia’s foreign policy discourse.

Asean

New US trade offensive threatens to test Asean ties

The trade probes may compel Southeast Asia to continue diversifying away from the US, with analysts predicting recent deals could unravel.

18 Mar 2026 - 6:28PM

Pacific nations

US strips moral framing from foreign aid in ‘America first’ pivot

11 Jan 2026 - 4:00PM

US-China relations

China closes capacity and influence gap with US in Asia, power index finds

10 Dec 2025 - 9:53PMvideocam

My Take

My Take | How China goes toe to toe with the West and softly-softly with the rest

Beijing rarely claims altruism. It always wants something from you, but most of the time, its approach is pragmatic, respectful and usually beneficial.

23 Nov 2025 - 10:15PM

China’s Premier Li Qiang at the G20 Leaders’ Summit, in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Sunday. Photo: AP

China-Australia relations

Call for ‘Pacific Eyes’ intelligence body to offset China’s growing presence

Think tank proposes dedicated alliance – initially with Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Fiji – to avoid being ‘blindsided’.

21 Oct 2025 - 10:08PMvideocam

Australia

Will Australia’s defence pact with Papua New Guinea curb China’s Pacific sway?

The defence treaty strengthens ties, counters China’s influence, and offers PNG citizens a path to Australian citizenship.

2 Oct 2025 - 5:52PM

Asean

US tariffs will cost Asean billions in lost trade, UN says. Is China the answer?

A new UN report forecasts a punishing 9.7 per cent drop in Southeast Asian exports to the US, potentially costing the region billions.

30 Sep 2025 - 3:52PM

An employee works at a factory making shoes for export in Hanoi. Vietnam’s shipments to the US are projected to fall by 19.2 per cent, Photo: Reuters

China trade

China is now Southeast Asia’s leading partner as US influence wanes, report says

China is the ‘most influential power’ in six of 11 countries in the region, with Trump’s tariffs and aid cuts eroding US clout, report finds.

24 Sep 2025 - 10:00PM

Australia

Opinion | Australia’s anti-immigrant rage a sign of democratic erosion

Liberal democracy can fray not just in courtrooms or parliaments but in everyday encounters where some citizens no longer feel safe.

18 Sep 2025 - 5:30AM

Australia

Australia to ‘upgrade’ defence ties with PNG as China’s Pacific influence grows

The deal will allow the nations’ citizens to serve in either military, with Australia offering citizenship as an incentive.

15 Sep 2025 - 1:31PM

Australian soldiers talk to Papua New Guineas defence minister and other officials during a visit to Brisbane earlier this year. Photo: Australian Defence Force/AFP

South China Sea

Will China boost defence posture as Vietnam deepens footprint in Spratlys?

Vietnam’s actions in South China Sea unlikely to change strategic balance, but could prompt Beijing to fortify defences, experts warn.

1 Sep 2025 - 9:16AMvideocam

Satellite imagery taken in 2025 shows Vietnamese dredging and landfill work at a reef in the Spratly Islands that had previously housed only small concrete pillbox structures. Photo: Handout

The Philippines

Beijing promised Manila billions in development aid. Why did it fall so short?

New study shows China disbursed US$700 million out of a promised US$30.5 billion, with analysts blaming political tensions for the gap.

25 Jul 2025 - 9:51PMvideocam

The Philippines

Will more US missiles in Philippines deter or provoke South China Sea conflict?

With the placement of missile and drone systems, analysts debate if the Philippines will become a forward-operating platform or a flashpoint.

23 Jul 2025 - 4:24PMvideocam

Asia housing and property

The View | What does Trump’s transshipment crackdown mean for Asian industrial property?

Asian industrial real estate could be affected by US efforts to marginalise China but is also part of the solution to diversifying supply chains.

21 Jul 2025 - 4:30PMvideocam

Workers stitch apparels at a garment factory in Vietnam’s Thai Nguyen province on July 2. Vietnam is one of the big winners from trade diversion and one of Asia’s best-performing industrial property markets amid the surge in demand for modern factories and warehouses. Photo: AFP

Malaysia

Malaysia’s fighter jet deal to ‘quietly’ boost South China Sea defences

The jets are part of a close, ‘under the radar’ US-Malaysia defence partnership, even as Kuala Lumpur continues engaging China positively, analysts say.

12 Jul 2025 - 11:07PMvideocam

A US F/A-18 Super Hornet attack fighter jet taking off. 16. Washington has approved Malaysia’s request to acquire up to 33 used F/A-18C/D Hornet fighter jets from Kuwait. Photo: AFP

The Philippines

F-35 drills in Philippines signal US ramp-up in combat readiness in Asia-Pacific

Analysts say the advanced fighter jet’s deployment shows Manila’s deep integration into US deterrence planning in the region.

8 Jul 2025 - 7:01PMvideocam

Japan

My Take | Who are these ‘like-minded countries’ politicians are talking about?

Once used to describe ‘the West’, the term has seen expanded usage recently.

27 Jun 2025 - 10:30AM

Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.

SUPPORT NOW

Lowy Institute

New US trade offensive threatens to test Asean ties

The trade probes may compel Southeast Asia to continue diversifying away from the US, with analysts predicting recent deals could unravel.

US strips moral framing from foreign aid in ‘America first’ pivot

China closes capacity and influence gap with US in Asia, power index finds

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}My Take | How China goes toe to toe with the West and softly-softly with the rest

Beijing rarely claims altruism. It always wants something from you, but most of the time, its approach is pragmatic, respectful and usually beneficial.

Call for ‘Pacific Eyes’ intelligence body to offset China’s growing presence

Think tank proposes dedicated alliance – initially with Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Fiji – to avoid being ‘blindsided’.

Will Australia’s defence pact with Papua New Guinea curb China’s Pacific sway?

The defence treaty strengthens ties, counters China’s influence, and offers PNG citizens a path to Australian citizenship.

US tariffs will cost Asean billions in lost trade, UN says. Is China the answer?

A new UN report forecasts a punishing 9.7 per cent drop in Southeast Asian exports to the US, potentially costing the region billions.

China is now Southeast Asia’s leading partner as US influence wanes, report says

China is the ‘most influential power’ in six of 11 countries in the region, with Trump’s tariffs and aid cuts eroding US clout, report finds.

Opinion | Australia’s anti-immigrant rage a sign of democratic erosion

Liberal democracy can fray not just in courtrooms or parliaments but in everyday encounters where some citizens no longer feel safe.

Australia to ‘upgrade’ defence ties with PNG as China’s Pacific influence grows

The deal will allow the nations’ citizens to serve in either military, with Australia offering citizenship as an incentive.

Will China boost defence posture as Vietnam deepens footprint in Spratlys?

Vietnam’s actions in South China Sea unlikely to change strategic balance, but could prompt Beijing to fortify defences, experts warn.

Beijing promised Manila billions in development aid. Why did it fall so short?

New study shows China disbursed US$700 million out of a promised US$30.5 billion, with analysts blaming political tensions for the gap.

Will more US missiles in Philippines deter or provoke South China Sea conflict?

With the placement of missile and drone systems, analysts debate if the Philippines will become a forward-operating platform or a flashpoint.

The View | What does Trump’s transshipment crackdown mean for Asian industrial property?

Asian industrial real estate could be affected by US efforts to marginalise China but is also part of the solution to diversifying supply chains.

Malaysia’s fighter jet deal to ‘quietly’ boost South China Sea defences

The jets are part of a close, ‘under the radar’ US-Malaysia defence partnership, even as Kuala Lumpur continues engaging China positively, analysts say.

F-35 drills in Philippines signal US ramp-up in combat readiness in Asia-Pacific

Analysts say the advanced fighter jet’s deployment shows Manila’s deep integration into US deterrence planning in the region.

My Take | Who are these ‘like-minded countries’ politicians are talking about?

Once used to describe ‘the West’, the term has seen expanded usage recently.

My Take | How China goes toe to toe with the West and softly-softly with the rest