Shows
Asia RisingIndia-Australia Climate Resilience Partnership in the Pacific IslandsThe 18 countries and territories across the Pacific are some of the most vulnerable to growing risks emerging from climate changes, especially the small island states.
Despite contributing less than 0.03% to global greenhouse gas emissions, the islands face devastating consequences, from sea level rise and loss of territory to unpredictable weather patterns to growing food and water insecurity.
India-Australia’s bilateral ties are at their strongest, presenting an opportune moment for more active collaboration to address food insecurity as an immediate concern and strengthen climate resilience in the Pacific Island region.
Panel:
Ambika Vi...2025-07-2356 minAsia RisingBook Launch: Rivers of the Asian HighlandsHigh in the Himalayas the waters of Asia’s eight largest rivers intersect. The rivers of the Asian Highlands are central to the world’s weather systems and activities in their water catchments have shaped the human past and will shape the future. These rivers support more than three billion people and provide water for 85% of Asia’s populations, and what happens to Asian highland rivers is of global significance.
Today human activities are contributing to rising temperatures, which leads to glacial shrinkage and uncertain river flows. Highland rivers are suffering from multiple crises, including inept management, negati...2025-06-0359 minAsia RisingTrump and Asia: Shaping the Future of U.S.-Asia RelationsAs President Donald Trump leads his second term, relationships between the US and Asian countries continue to evolve under his administration’s policies.
While there has been much focus on Europe's reactions to a more transactional leadership style in the US, less has been discussed about how it will affect trade negotiations, military alliances, and geopolitical tensions in Asia.
The United States, once a reliable ally to many, now represents a wild card, and how Trump views Asian nations including China, North Korea, Japan, and India, will have a measurable impact on trade, security, and di...2025-04-011h 03Asia RisingThe Contest for Supremacy in Global PoliticsGreat power rivalry is now an entrenched feature of Asia's security environment. While the United States' role in Asia looks increasingly uncertain under the new Trump administration, China has long sought its security by building dominant relationships with smaller powers in its neighbourhood.
While Australia focuses keenly on the activities of the US and China in East Asia and the Pacific, far less is understood about the contests for power playing out in Central Asia and its implications for global stability and order. In this arena, Russia and the United States are keen to challenge China’s pr...2025-02-131h 33Asia RisingBook Launch: The Politics of Language Oppression in TibetThere are dozens of minority languages spoken in Tibet, but that number is currently collapsing under assimilatory state policies. An increasing number of families in these communities are now passing on Tibetan or Chinese, in the hope of accessing better opportunities in education and employment.
What are the systems at work that restrict and devalue minority languages in Tibet? How can global advocacy networks acknowledge the issue, and what radical changes are needed to address this crisis?
The launch of The Politics of Language Oppression in Tibet by Gerald Roche, published by Cornell University Press.2024-11-211h 03Asia Rising#231: What the New Trump Presidency Means for AsiaDonald Trump has won the 2024 Unites States election. So what will his return to the White House mean for the Asian region?
Guest:
Professor Bec Strating (Director, La Trobe Asia)
Recorded on 11th November, 2024.2024-11-1334 minAsia RisingIndigeneity in AsiaWhat does "Indigeneity" mean in Asia? For many in these communities, an Indigenous identity can represent a way to strengthen community identities, encourage language and cultural flourishing, highlight their ancestral relationships to land and water, and push back against large states’ attempts to minoritise them.
What are the benefits and challenges of using the term in Asia? What does the grassroots enthusiasm for the term “Indigenous” and top-down restraints on its use mean for our understanding of Indigeneity more broadly? And how could recognising Asian Indigenous groups shape diplomacy and aid programs?
Speakers:
Professor Sheryl...2024-11-1256 min
Asia RisingEvent: Human Trafficking in Southeast AsiaLarge numbers of people in Southeast Asia seek opportunities to improve their lives either within or outside their home country. While there are many positive benefits, the risk of exploitation is high. Many find themselves deceived or coerced into situations where they are abused and forced to live and work in poor conditions with little or no pay. Some are forced into sex work or marriages against their will, while others fall prey to the illicit organ trade.
How can we better understand what makes people vulnerable to human trafficking? What can governments and organisations be doing...2024-09-1952 minAsia RisingEvent: The State of Democracy in AsiaMore than a billion people across Asia have voted so far in 2024, in elections in India, Indonesia, South Korea, Taiwan and more, but outside of the main results the electoral processes and implications for democracy rarely attracted international headlines.
While voting is a key expression of democratic participation, during elections democratic ideals can be challenged. Many of these elections will have repercussions not just for citizens within these countries and the Asian region, but also for the quality of democracy and human rights across the globe.
What can we learn from these elections in Asia...2024-06-241h 03
Asia RisingEvent: Enhancing Global and Regional Maritime OrderOceans are an important resource for every country and are essential for travel and trade, but there are several critical issues facing maritime order in Asia.
A lack of a shared vision, differing interpretations of maritime order, and cooperation over security issues all create friction for use of shared waterways across Asia, which makes fair and equitable access vital. How can Asian states and allies strengthen dialogue, interactions, and coordination to maximise the impact of their efforts in upholding regional and maritime order?
Speakers:
- Professor Bec Strating (Director, La Trobe Asia)
...2024-04-121h 03Asia RisingEvent: Contested Waters: Maritime Security in Southeast AsiaThe maritime region is becoming increasingly contested, particularly in Southeast Asia. From tensions rising in the South China Sea, grey zone issues, challenges to international law, and environmental issues such as sea level rise and overfishing, maritime security is important for Indo-Pacific security.
As Melbourne hosts the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit, this event will provide insights into maritime security issues in Australia and Southeast Asia and explore opportunities for collaboration and cooperation.
Speakers:
• Dr Chiew-Ping Hoo (Senior Fellow, East Asian International Relations Caucus)
• Dr Ruji Auethavornpipat (Lecturer, La Trobe University)
• Jennifer Parker (Expert Associ...2024-03-1254 minAsia RisingEvent: Climate Resilence in AsiaWith its densely populated cities, low-lying islands, and melting glaciers, Asia is a region vulnerable to the impact of climate change. Extreme heat, weather disasters and the rising sea level could lead to mass flooding, landslides and drought, impacting millions.
While governments across developing Asia have made ambitious climate pledges, there remains substantial scope for expansion, and the region stands to gain many benefits from decisive action. How is climate change going to affect the region in the decade to come? What efforts are being made to increase regional climate resilience? What is Australia’s role in pr...2023-11-271h 04Asia RisingEvent: Conflict in Asia? The view from TaiwanIn Australia, there is much public discussion about US-China relations, prospects of conflict involving Taiwan and implications for Australia’s security. It is only rarely, however, that these conversations involve Taiwanese voices.
La Trobe University is honoured to host an exclusive panel discussion in which Foreign Minister of Taiwan Joseph Wu and Associate Professor Rebecca Strating of La Trobe Asia discuss Taiwan’s perspectives on key regional security issues and concerns to a global audience.2023-10-311h 15Asia RisingEvent: School Sport for Development in IndiaThere has long been an associated benefit between sport and learning, as it develops communication, social and psychological benefits. In the context of India, it could be used as an active part of the curriculum, to encourage activity-based learning initiatives and improve the quality of school education.
The prospect comes with challenges – India is a populous country, multilinguistic and culturally diverse. However, India is a sport loving nation, and sport has important roles to play in Indian society. This creates an opportunity for India to use sport as a tool to engage children and adults for increased so...2023-08-041h 02Asia RisingEvent: Australia’s Asian IdentityThis event explores Australia’s identity in Asia, and what it means for Australia to be in the Asia-Pacific region. Ten years since the ‘Australia in the Asian Century’ Foreign Policy White Paper, we reflect on Australia’s role and national identity in Asia.
What does it mean for Australia to have an Asian Identity? What is Australia’s Asia Identity? What does it mean for Australia to be in Asia? How do we harness multiculturalism in policy making?
Taking a policy and cultural perspective, this event will unpack Australian nationhood and grapple with Australia’s identity i...2023-07-191h 00Asia RisingEvent: Fresh Perspectives on the QuadEmerging leaders from Australia, Japan, India and the United States discuss key issues facing the 'Quad', and puts forward a strong case for the Quad working together on non-traditional security issues across the Indo-Pacific region.
The next generation of Quad leaders view enhancing resilience against grey zone challenges, geoeconomics, outer spaces, critical technologies and human security as keys to unlocking the Quad’s potential. This challenges the Quad to deliver on public goods commitments to strengthen the free and open Indo-Pacific.
This is the launch of the 8th issue of the La Trobe Asia Brief pr...2023-05-041h 01Asia RisingEvent: Australia and Southeast Asia: A Joint Agenda for Maritime SecurityWhat does it look like for Australia and Southeast Asia to develop a joint agenda for maritime security?
Join La Trobe Asia, consortium lead for the Blue Security program, to launch the first paper in a series on Maritime Security in Southeast Asia.
Blue Security is a collaboration between La Trobe Asia, Griffith Asia Institute (GAI), University of New South Wales Canberra (ADFA), University of Western Australia’s Defence and Security Institute (DSI) and the Asia-Pacific Development, Diplomacy and Defence Dialogue (AP4D).
Panel:
- Melissa Conley Tyler (Executive Director, Asia-Pacific Development, De...2023-05-031h 03Asia RisingEvent: Australia’s Asia-Pacific Engagement: Past and FutureAustralia’s relationships in and with Asia and the Pacific is a perennial feature of debates about its foreign and defence policy and how it projects its sense of identity on the world stage. In recent years Australia’s interaction with major powers have become much more complex. As Australia reconceptualises future directions in dealing with allies and neighbours, and its position in Asia and the Pacific more broadly, what lessons does history offer?
What forces have influenced Australia’s role on the world stage both historically and today? What is the future direction of Australia’s foreign...2023-03-241h 01Asia Rising#200: The State of Asia in 2023What pressures will the Russian invasion of Ukraine put on Asia? How will China recover post-covid? Will the Quad and AUKUS change power dynamics in the region?
To celebrate the 200th episode of Asia Rising, a special recording to discuss the news, views and general happenings of Asian states and societies in 2023.
Guests:
Professor Nick Bisley (Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, La Trobe University)
Assoc. Professor Bec Strating (Director, La Trobe Asia)
Recorded on 13 February, 2023.2023-03-1039 minAsia RisingEvent: What Indonesia’s Criminal Code Means for Human RightsIndonesia has passed a new criminal code, amongst which are a raft of controversial new morality laws and speech restrictions, including banning sex outside of marriage, insulting the president, and expressing any view that runs counter to state ideology.
There are important implications for democratic freedoms in Indonesia, and human rights concerns on the implications of for women, religious minorities, and gender diverse groups.
What does the new criminal code imply for human rights in Indonesia? How has the Indonesian public responded to the new criminal code? What could it mean in the lead-up to...2023-02-0857 minAsia RisingEvent: The Quad: Emerging Security Issues in the Indo-PacificAs tensions in the Indo-Pacific increase and new security issues emerge, Australia, the United States, India and Japan have come together with the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue to support the Indo-Pacific.
The event will explored the key issues and challenges of the Quad, and the role of each state in emerging security issues Indo-Pacific.
This event was a part of the QUADMIN Emerging Leaders Dialogue, bringing together emerging leaders from Australia, the United States, India and Japan. QUADMIN is supported by the U.S. Embassy Canberra.
Panel:
Stuti Bhatnagar (Research Fellow, Strategic...2022-12-0759 minAsia Rising#193: The Repression of Indigenous Languages in AsiaThe United Nations has declared 2022 the start of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages, aiming to raise awareness of the ongoing global loss of Indigenous languages.
Ongoing attacks on human rights defenders and restrictions on civil society are critically challenging the effectiveness of these efforts.
Read Indigenous Language Rights and the Politics of Fear in Asia - Issue 7 of The La Trobe Asia Brief.
Dr Gerald Roche (Senior Research Fellow in Politics at La Trobe University, La Trobe Asia fellow).
Recorded 29 September 2022.2022-10-3135 minAsia RisingEvent: Indigenous Language Rights and the Politics of Fear in AsiaApproximately 7,000 languages are signed or spoken in the world today, more than half of them by Indigenous people. These languages are critical to services like education and healthcare, and their neglect threatens the health and wellbeing of Indigenous people. Language is literally a matter of life and death.
The United Nations has declared 2022 the start of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages, highlighting the need for governments and societies to amplify the voices and knowledge of Indigenous peoples globally, and involve them directly in the process. However, in Asia’s largest and most linguistically diverse countries, human ri...2022-10-131h 10Asia RisingThe Catch ep 6: Victim's VoicesThe 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.2022-07-1221 minAsia RisingPublic event: Sleepwalk to War: The Australia-US alliance in AsiaAustralia 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...2022-07-051h 01Asia RisingThe Catch ep 5: SupportThe 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.2022-07-0425 minAsia RisingThe Catch ep 4: ReintegrationThe Catch.
A podcast miniseries about modern slavery and forced labour in the offshore fishing industry in the Asia Pacific Region.
Episode 4: Reintegration
Episode 5 available now on all podcast platforms.
Host: Dr Bec Strating (Executive Director, La Trobe Asia)
Guest: Associate Professor Christina Stringer (Centre for Research on Modern Slavery, University of Auckland)
Produced by La Trobe Asia.2022-06-2716 minAsia RisingThe Catch ep 3: RestitutionThe Catch.
A podcast miniseries about modern slavery and forced labour in the offshore fishing industry in the Asia Pacific Region.
Episode 3: Restitution
Episode 4 available now on all podcast platforms.
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.2022-06-2019 minAsia RisingThe Catch ep 2: In Too DeepThe Catch.
A podcast miniseries about modern slavery and forced labour in the offshore fishing industry in the Asia Pacific Region.
Episode 2: In Too Deep
Episode 3 available now on all podcast platforms.
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.2022-06-1324 minAsia RisingThe Catch ep 1: RecruitmentThe Catch.
A podcast miniseries about modern slavery and forced labour in the offshore fishing industry in the Asia Pacific Region.
Episode 1: Recruitment
Episode 2 available now on all podcast platforms.
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.2022-06-0622 minAsia RisingWebinar: Fresh Perspectives on the Indo-PacificThis launch of Issue 6 of the La Trobe Asia Brief brings together emerging leaders to discuss critical issues facing the Indo-Pacific. Written by students and young professionals from a diverse range of areas, this event will explore gender and conflict resolution in the Indo-Pacific, Australian foreign policy and South Korea’s maritime strategy. As the balance of power shifts in the Indo-Pacific, future leaders are looking at strategic challenges from a fresh perspective. To understand the future of the Indo-Pacific, it is vital we listen to future leaders.
This La Trobe Asia Brief is in conjunction with th...2022-03-291h 02Asia RisingWebinar: Gendering the Pandemic: Women’s representation and participation in the Asia-PacificFor all states across the Asia-Pacific women's representation in all sectors remains dismally low. The COVID-19 pandemic and responses to it have disproportionately affected women and girls across the Asia-Pacific, from alarming increases in domestic violence during extended lockdowns to the growing gender gap in employment opportunities.
Addressing these challenges requires policy-makers to implement gender-sensitive reforms, taking the voice and visibility of women and girls seriously in decision-making processes across both private and public sector spheres.
As we manage the difficult task of recovery and the ongoing long term impacts of COVID-19 there has never...2022-03-211h 00Asia RisingWebinar: Indigenous Language Politics in AsiaAsia is a linguistically diverse region, but this diversity is currently under threat. After centuries of colonisation and decades of rapid development, communities throughout Asia are facing distinct and urgent challenges to defend their rights to language in the face of discrimination, exclusion, and violence. How are Indigenous people and languages across Asia responding to this situation? Who decides which languages deserve attention and resources? How can awareness of Indigenous languages be raised and new political agendas promoted?
As the world enters what UNESCO has declared as the Decade of Indigenous Languages we will explore these issues...2022-02-231h 26Asia RisingWebinar: Democracy in Malaysia: Prospects and PossibilitiesAfter a period of turmoil, Malaysia’s new Prime Minister, Ismail Sabri Yaakob, has a tenuous hold on leadership. A politician of the UMNO (United Malays National Organisation) coalition, his party returns to power a few short years after their first ever electoral defeat when former Prime Minister Najib Razak was tied to the 1MDB scandal involving RM 2.67 billion (close to $900m AUD) in missing funds.
Ismail now holds a slim majority in parliament and is seen by many as a compromise leader for parties and factions desperate to hold off high profile opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim. Wh...2021-11-191h 02Asia RisingWebinar: Asian Monarchies in the Modern AgeWhile the twentieth century saw the collapse of monarchies across Europe, recent events are a reminder that hereditary monarchies still matter in Asia. In some countries like Malaysia and Bhutan the institution is thriving, but they can struggle for relevancy given the pro-democracy movement in Thailand and fast-modernising landscape of Japan.
In an era of autocratic populism, does constitutional monarchy provide some safeguards against the megalomania of political leaders? Are they just feudal relics and ceremonial figureheads which should be abolished, or does the division between ceremonial and actual power act as a brake on authoritarian politicians?2021-10-1359 minAsia Rising#169: Gender and Security in AsiaWhy does gender matter when thinking about security? In Asia, discussions and policies concerning conflict, peace and security remain dominated by male voices and views. The exclusion of women’s voices has significant implications for the types of ideas, strategies and policies that are proposed and adopted in security-related fields.
A live recording of the Asia Rising podcast for 'India Week' - in collaboration with the Australia India Institute.
Guest: Dr Meenakshi Gopinath (Director, Women in Security Conflict Management and Peace and member of the La Trobe Asia Advisory Board)
Recorded on 11th Ju...2021-08-1331 minAsia RisingWebinar: The Challenge of ChinaThe recent emergence of China as an economic and military super-power, rivalling the United States, is one of the most significant and challenging developments of the present era.
A La Trobe Asia / Ideas and Society event
Speakers:
- The Hon. Malcolm Turnbull AC (29th Prime Minister of Australia)
- The Hon. Kevin Rudd AC (26th Prime Minister of Australia)
- Professor John Dewar (Vice-Chancellor, La Trobe University (Introduction)
- Dr Rebecca Strating (Executive Director, La Trobe Asia) (Chair)
Recorded on 10th August, 2021.2021-08-101h 26Asia RisingWebinar: Is Asia Going to War?As Asia grapples with a global pandemic the region has become less secure. China's ambitions in Taiwan and Hong Kong are growing, North Korea is uncharacteristically silent, and the United States, a long-time stabilising presence, continues to slowly withdraw.
In this webinar, an expert panel considers where conflict is likely, who could be involved, and what can be done to mitigate the situation.
A La Trobe Asia / Asia Society event
Speakers:
Dr Oriana Skylar Mastro, Center Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, Stanford University
Professor Nick...2021-08-051h 02Asia RisingWebinar: Australia-Southeast Asia Relations: The Post COVID-19 Regional OrderThe relationship between Australia and Southeast Asian countries has grown substantially in the last decade, from a marriage of convenience to the development of regional agendas, strategic partnerships and shared economic interests.
A global pandemic has shifted priorities, and vaccine diplomacy throughout the region has both shifted and strengthened existing allegiances. Has Australia’s actions during the pandemic helped or hindered relationships with Southeast Asian nations? What will the post-COVID-19 regional order of Southeast Asia look like?
The launch of the 5th issue of the La Trobe Asia Policy Brief.
Speakers:
Professor Ca...2021-07-081h 31Asia RisingWebinar: Modern Day Slavery and Human Trafficking in AsiaHuman trafficking is an urgent human security issue in Asia. The abuse and exploitation associated with human trafficking have been documented across a range of sectors, including the sex industry, domestic work, construction, agriculture, and fisheries. Key drivers of human trafficking across the region include poverty and the desire for a better life. Increasingly widening economic disparities in Asia and the impact of climate change have become a focus of attention for organisations attempting to address peoples' vulnerability to human trafficking.
Trafficking for labour exploitation outside the sex industry is now recognised as an equally significant concern...2021-04-211h 05Asia RisingWebinar: Fighting Fake News in a Time of COVID-19The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted how the spread of fake news and misinformation online – even if shared without malicious intent – can weaken global public health efforts, contribute to social unrest and lead to real-life harms or even death.
In the Asia Pacific, Singapore and Indonesia are among the early adopters of fake news laws to crack down on the pernicious problem of online misinformation and disinformation. These laws aim to address COVID-19 misinformation and the real-world violence and hate speech aimed at minority and religious groups, but internet and human rights experts fear the laws are also open...2021-03-171h 30Asia RisingWebinar: Myanmar’s Military Coup: Challenging Democracy in Southeast AsiaLast month, the military upended years of quasi-democratic rule in Myanmar in a carefully orchestrated coup. Military leaders justified the takeover by alleging voter fraud in the 2020 November election, which the National League for Democracy (NLD) had won in a landslide. The civilian leader of Myanmar and the NLD, former Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, was detained by the military, along with dozens of officials, law-makers and aides.
The military announced that it will remain in power for one year, with ultimate authority resting with Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. Some suspect the military...2021-02-241h 00Asia RisingWebinar: Australia-China Relations: A New Low Point?In 2020, Australia and China relations appeared to hit new lows. Diplomatic tensions flared over a range of issues, including Australia’s unilateral calls for an inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus, Beijing’s trade strikes on key industries, and raids on journalists.
In Australia, concerns about foreign interference and human rights violations have encouraged an increasingly hardline anti-China stance in some quarters, including among the so-called ‘Wolverines’. In Chinese media, Australia is presented as a lackey of the United States and a satellite of American interests in the Indo-Pacific.
Despite these challenges, China remains Australi...2020-11-111h 30Asia RisingWebinar: India's Heritage: Preserving the Past While Embracing the FutureIndia has a long and unique history with a rich cultural heritage, but in the modern race for progress it can be difficult to conserve the past. The country boasts 38 recognised UNESCO world heritage sites with many more under consideration, ranging from natural wonders like the Himalayan National Park, to the cultural treasures such as the Agra Fort, the Taj Mahal, and the Historic City of Ahmedabad. These sites are treated with respect and pride by India, but many intersect with conflicting demands of tourism, religion, and everyday living.
How can India preserve its heritage while pursuing...2020-10-301h 01Asia RisingWebinar: Trump vs Biden: the US Election and Implications for AsiaThe 2020 United States presidential election is weeks away, and the stakes have never been higher. A global pandemic, frayed diplomatic relations and struggling economies make the outcome of the race between incumbent Republican President Donald Trump and stalwart democratic contender Joe Biden internationally significant.
Over recent years, China has increasingly asserted its stake in the South China Sea, North Korea has stepped into the international spotlight, and India has flexed its military might at borders in every direction. Despite the Trump administration’s Indo-Pacific strategy, doubt has been cast on the long-term prospects of US leadership and pr...2020-10-091h 00Asia RisingWebinar: Education and the Politics of Identity in East AsiaDespite their diverse histories and cultures, common tensions characterize debates about identity and nationhood across the Asia-Pacific. Homogenous visions of identity and nationhood sit uneasily alongside notions of citizenship that embrace cultural and ethnic diversity. In many societies, rising inequality feeds fear and resentment of immigrants, and legacies or memories of empire and colonialism have also fuelled resentment of foreign interference or ‘hegemony’. In stories of nationhood, what is forgotten or avoided is just as important as what is remembered.
What role, then, does education play in shaping ideas of identity and nationhood across the contemporary Asia-Pacific? To w...2020-09-101h 04Asia RisingWebinar: Pandemics and Public Health Systems in AsiaThe covid-19 pandemic sweeping across Asia and the world has highlighted the strengths and limitations in the delivery of public health services within different states. While some states like Vietnam and South Korea are praised for their successful responses to the global crisis, the public health systems in other countries have seemingly struggled to manage surges in cases.
A well-developed and effective public health system is one that meets the needs of communities through the achievement of primary health care objectives. This requires recognising and accounting for the complex relationships between the delivery of health services and...2020-09-041h 01Asia Rising#146: Is Trump Making Asia a More Unstable Region? (Trump in Asia #3)The election of Donald Trump was met with mixed emotions across Asia, and in the years since his presidency has had a marked effect on the stability of the region.
Countries are adjusting and re-evaluating their perspectives on regional security, alliances are being tested, and many countries are facing the reality of an Asia without a United States presence.
How will security and prosperity be achieved in a contested Asia? Does America benefit from an unstable Asia? And what might the future bring for the region with a change of president in America or four...2020-07-1626 minAsia RisingWebinar: Trump in AsiaDonald J. Trump’s win in the 2016 US elections was met with mixed emotions across Asia. Many in the region greeted the election with cautious optimism. They assumed that Washington would take a more pragmatic line, and that a man who prided himself on his business acumen would present new opportunities in trade and resource relations.
But the Trump presidency has proven to be unpredictable. His relationship with Asian countries has been wide-ranging, from flattering to negligent, and competition among the major powers, particularly between China and the United States, has intensified and is now the dominant fe...2020-07-021h 03Asia RisingWebinar: South China Sea and Maritime Rule-Based OrderOver the past decade the hotly disputed South China Sea has become increasingly used as example of the rising strategic competition between the People’s Republic of China and the United States.
Overlapping territory claims and maritime jurisdiction, strategic control over maritime domain, and differences in legal interpretations of freedom of navigation combine in a broader contest that affects multiple countries in Southeast Asia as they defend their maritime entitlements. Even regional non-claimant states such as Australia, Japan, India and South Korea claim stakes in the South China Sea, reflecting concerns about the shifting regional order and Ch...2020-06-161h 05Asia RisingWebinar: Women and Australian International AffairsThis La Trobe Asia event launches the newly released Australian Journal of International Affairs special issue “Critical Analyses in Australian Foreign, Defence and Strategic Policy”, a collection of essays by early- to mid-career Australian women researchers that arose as a response to ongoing issues around women’s visibility and representation in Australian International Affairs.
Session One:vWomen in Australian International Affairs
What challenges face women's equitable participation in the discipline & vocation of International Relations, & what strategies and responses might help redress gender imbalances in the field?
This keynote panel will discuss the findings of the...2020-06-031h 57Asia RisingWebinar: How Asia Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the PandemicWhile much of the world is still in the grips of a tumultuous pandemic, areas of Asia are in recovery and planning for the year ahead, albeit at a cautious pace. China, Hong Kong, South Korea and Australia are executing roadmaps for economic recovery, and there are signs that some countries will benefit at the expense of distracted western democracies.
How does the next year look for the region? Will Asia emerge from the pandemic region stronger, and have a bolder China to contend with?
In this La Trobe Asia webinar we will be joined...2020-05-1959 minAsia RisingWebinar: Uyghurs for SaleSince 2017, more than a million Uyghurs and members of other Turkic Muslim minorities have disappeared into a vast network of ‘re-education camps’ in the far west region of Xinjiang, China, in what some experts call a systematic, government-led program of cultural genocide.
The ‘re-education' appears to be entering a new phase, as government officials now claim that all ‘trainees’ have ‘graduated’. There is mounting evidence that many Uyghurs are now being forced to work in factories that are in the supply chains of at least 83 well-known global brands in the technology, clothing and automotive sectors, including Apple, BMW, Gap, Huaw...2020-04-151h 02Asia RisingEvent: Managing the Himalaya (live in Sikkim)The mountains of the Himalaya are instantly recognisable, and they play a critical role in Asia’s climate, hydrology, ecology, and geopolitics. Despite their regional and global importance, they face multiple, severe, and intersecting threats that do not receive the attention they deserve.
Speakers:
Dr Alexander E. Davis (New Generation Network Research Fellow, Politics, La Trobe University)
Dr Ruth Gamble (David Myers Research Fellow, La Trobe University)
Dr Gerald Roche (Research Fellow, Politics, Media and Philosophy, La Trobe University)
Dr. K.R. Rama Mohan (Associate Professor, Head of Anthropology, Sikkim University)
Pema Do...2019-12-051h 18Asia RisingEvent: Maintaining Stability in a Volatile Region: a Japanese PerspectiveJapan’s national security is rapidly changing. Asia is shifting from an era of prosperity and peace to one of contestation and rivalry between powerful leaders. North Korea has grown emboldened and appears no closer to denuclearisation than when Kim Jong Un embraced dialogue with US President, Donald Trump, in 2017. Xi Jinping’s China is more confident, assertive and nationalistic than ever, and there is fresh uncertainty about Japan’s security partner, the United States.
In this challenging security environment, Japan has signalled a desire to change its foreign and defence policy to secure greater regional and global...2019-11-1559 minAsia RisingEvent: Melting Opportunities: Climate Change and Conflict in the HimalayaThe snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas are instantly recognisable, but the critical role these mountains play in Asia’s climate, hydrology, ecology and geopolitics is mostly underplayed.
Despite this importance, or perhaps because of them, there are a number of threats to the environment, many of which intersect, and the Himalayas will need careful management and thoughtful intervention if they are to survive both as a natural environment and a resource.
In this event, a panel of experts discuss the problems with managing the Himalayas and potential solutions.
Speakers:
- Dr Alexander Da...2019-10-2550 minAsia RisingEvent: The Surprising Success of Chinese Communism: The PRC at 70In October 2019 the People's Republic of China celebrated its 70th anniversary with pomp, parades and pageantry. This lecture Asia examines the highs and lows, the failures and its successes of the PRC through the 27 Mao Zedong years and the 43 years since then, of Deng Xiaoping's reform-and-opening followed by Xi Jinping's New Era for "socialism with Chinese characteristics."
A China Studies Research Centre / La Trobe Asia event
Speakers:
- Professor Baogang He (Alfred Deakin Professor and Chair in International Relations at Deakin University)
- Dr Gerry Groot (Senior Lecturer in Chinese Studies in the...2019-10-101h 08Asia RisingEvent: An Audience with a North Korean Defector
The decision to defect from North Korea is not undertaken lightly, but for those in prominent positions it can be particularly fraught. The fates of Kim’s half-brother, Kim Jong Nam, and uncle, Jang Song Thaek underline the risks of disloyalty to the regime.
In this special in-conversation event Thae Yong Ho, a prominent North Korean defector and former North Korean deputy ambassador to the United Kingdom, shares rare insights based on his experience and knowledge of the Kim regime.
Speakers:
Thae Yong Ho (North Korean Defector, former Deputy Ambassador to the Un...2019-09-0559 minAsia RisingEvent: The Indo-Pacific and Australia’s East-West Perspectives
Australia is one of the few countries whose shores lap both the Indian and Pacific oceans, and the old adage of “where you stand depends upon where you sit” rings true.
From Western Australia, the “Indo” component of the Indo-Pacific has clear geographical clarity. Western Australians look north and west to rising India and rising Indonesia. From the east coast of Australia, developments in the Pacific, including in the nearby Pacific Islands, necessarily capture strategic attention.
Geography plays an important role in driving different international and strategic outlooks in Australia. With an expansive coastlin...2019-08-2932 minAsia RisingEvent: Pakistan's Terrorism Problem
For the past twenty years Pakistan has wrestled with terrorism. More than 60,000 Pakistanis have been killed as a result of terrorist attacks. Terrorism has caused tension with Pakistan’s neighbouring countries, with Iran, India and Afghanistan accusing Pakistan of complicity in attacks on their soil. It has also complicated Pakistan's relations with the United States, especially after the discovery that Osama bin Laden had been hiding in the country for years after 9/11.
Successive governments, including the present one led by Imran Khan, have struggled to curb terrorist activity by a series of groups, despite international pr...2019-08-2757 minAsia RisingEvent: Australia-China Relations: Finding the Elusive Balance
The relationship with China is of critical importance to Australia. It is also increasingly complex, being influenced by economics, domestic factors and strategic forces.
Yet it is a relationship with underlying tension. China and Australia sometimes find themselves on different sides of the table in some bilateral issues, and disagreements over foreign investment in Australia, influence, and the interests of allied countries might prevent further successful co-operation or interaction.
This panel discusses the key challenges and opportunities confronting the bilateral relationship of China and Australia.
Panellists:
Professor Nick Bisley (Head...2019-08-011h 22Asia Rising#126: A Testing Friendship (Australia-China Relations #1)
For the most part, China has seen Australia as an especially agreeable and non-troubling partner, as a predictable American security ally but with a friendly twist. This is changing, and the pressure is intensifying for Australia to rebuild its standings with Beijing.
Find out more about the La Trobe Asia Brief on Australia-China relations.
https://www.latrobe.edu.au/news/announcements/2019/australia-china-relations
Guest:
Rowan Callick (Journalist, author, advisory board member of La Trobe Asia)
Follow La Trobe Asia on Twitter: www.twitter.com/latrobeasia
Recorded 30 May, 2019.2019-07-0119 minAsia RisingEvent: The State of Indonesia: A Post-Election Panel
On 17 April, Indonesians headed to the polls in one of the largest democratic elections in the world.
President Joko Widodo seems assured of a second term, with a quick count announcing a win by around 9-10 percentage points.
In this panel discussion, three Indonesia experts will analyse the outcome of the elections, examine what went right and what went wrong for the presidential candidates and political parties, and look at the road ahead for the elected president and Indonesia itself.
Panelists:
Professor Vedi Hadiz (Director and Professor of Asian Studies...2019-05-0243 minAsia RisingEvent: Australia and China in the Pacific
In recent months there has been intense speculation in the media and in policy forums about China’s involvement in the Pacific. In turn, this has raised questions about the Australia’s historical and continuing role in the region, as well as evolving issues around sovereignty and neo-colonialism.
Is the sovereignty of Pacific nations under threat? Or is China really providing aid only in order to help those nations attain sustainable development? Should Australia be doing more to support Pacific nations and, if so, what form should this take?
Speakers:
The Hon. John...2018-09-2400 minAsia RisingEvent: Cooperation in Contested Asia (policy brief launch)
East Asia’s security environment is changing rapidly. China’s power and confidence is rising, the US is increasingly introspective and uncertainty abounds about its power and purpose. India and Russia also clamour for influence. Regional powers are entering a period of growing rivalry and animosity, nationalism is an increasingly pervasive force, and prompted by a pervasive sense of strategic uncertainty, military spending is ramping up in many countries.
As a new equilibrium has yet to be established in the security order, how can middle ranking countries like Japan and Australia manage their interests? The two...2018-09-1200 minAsia RisingEvent: How Asia Goes to War
Asia is at a dangerous moment. China is rising fast, and its regional ambitions are growing. Reckless North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un may be assembling more nuclear weapons, despite diplomatic efforts to eradicate his arsenal. Japan is building up its military, throwing off constitutional constraints imposed after World War II. The United States, for so long a stabilising presence in Asia, is behaving erratically: The possibility of global catastrophe looms ever closer.
Geopolitical expert Brendan Taylor is Associate Professor of Strategic Studies at the Australian National University. His new book The Four Flashpoints, examines the...2018-08-2900 minAsia RisingEvent: Japan's Approach to a Changing World
Japan faces a rapidly changing international environment. Asia is shifting from an era of peace and prosperity to one of contestation and great power rivalry. North Korea's nuclear ambitions are unsettling the region. Xi Jinping's China is more confident, assertive and nationalistic than ever and uncertainty lingers of the role of Japan's security partner, the United States.
In response to these changes and challenges Japan has set out to change its foreign and defence policy and is seeking a greater regional and global influence. It is taking on a greater role in regional security matters...2018-02-2800 minAsia Rising#88 North Korea's Vulnerable Ecology (Asia and the Environment #2)
North Korea is a country that can little afford a close examination of ecological impact. The environment exists and is protected as long as it is useful as a resource to the authoritative state.
Despite this it holds an important place in the mythology of the country, and retaining elements of it is useful, as long as they can be exploited.
GUEST:
Dr Robert Winstanley-Chesters (Research Fellow, College of Asia and the Pacific, Australian National University)
Follow Robert Winstanley-Chesters on Twitter: @rwinstanleyc
Follow Benjamin Habib on Twitter: @drbenjaminhabib
...2018-02-2600 minAsia Rising#87 Pollution and Priorities in India (Asia and the Environment #1)
India struggles with environmental imperatives. Its cities have the worst air pollution in the world, its iconic rivers are, in some places, literally dead and human development pressures will often override concerns of the natural environment.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made commitments to clean up India, but can he follow through with his promises? Are there more invested interests in pushing forward with industrial projects, and does India's environment have the time to be neglected?
GUEST:
Professor Amita Baviskar, (Sociologist, Economic Institute of Growth, Delhi).
Follow La Trobe Asia...2018-02-1300 minAsia RisingEvent: Reading Duterte's Reign
President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte has been called many names: The Trump of the East, a dictator-in-waiting, the bastard child of Philippines’ democracy.
Beyond these colourful labels, however, are critical social transformations occurring in the Philippine society that accompany Duterte’s rise to presidency.
SPEAKERS:
Dr Nicole Curato (ARC Discovery Early Career Research Fellow, Centre for Deliberative Democracy and Global Governance, University of Canberra).
Professor Nick Bisley (Executive Director, La Trobe Asia, La Trobe University)
This event was the book launch of a new book edited by Nicole Cura...2017-11-3000 minAsia RisingEvent: China-Australia Relations: Affluence, Influence and Soft Power
China and Australia have relationship anchored by strong trade bonds, and there is a respectful prime-ministerial level dialogue between the two countries.
Yet it is a relationship with underlying tension. China and Australia sometimes find themselves on different sides of the table in some bilateral issues, and disagreements over foreign investment in Australia, influence, and the interests of allied countries might prevent further successful co-operation or interaction.
This panel will discuss the key challenges and opportunities confronting the bilateral relationship of China and Australia.
SPEAKERS:
Professor Nick Bisley (La Trobe Asia, La...2017-11-2800 minAsia RisingEvent: The Relentless Invention of Modern India
Modern India stands on the threshold of becoming a global power. As it seeks to revitalise its economy and improve the health and education prospects of its citizens, improve its fractious relations with China and Pakistan and make its mark on the global stage, the key to understanding its future lies in understanding its leader.
Prime Minister, Narendra Modi is a controversial figure in his own country and abroad. He has garnered unprecedented political support while facing criticism for his nationalism, his record in government and his economic policies. With his leadership India has enormous...2017-09-1900 minAsia RisingEvent: Duterte's Ambition: A Challenging Future for the Philippines
The Philippines’ maverick president, Rodrigo Duterte, has had a turbulent first year in office.
His crime fighting agenda, popular with the middle class during the election, has delivered a bloody and devastating war on drugs with crowded prisons and thousands killed in the streets. Internal conflict with Islamic State-backed groups has led to martial law on the island of Mindanao and threats of civil war.
With five years left in his term of presidency, what can the Philippines and the world expect from Duterte?
In this discussion two experts give their as...2017-09-0600 minAsia Rising#75 Japan Faces an Uncertain Asia (live)
Japan has a challenging future. Its population is declining, the economy remains anaemic while the country’s security environment is extremely challenging.
North Korea presents an existential threat, and China’s growing military power threatens the country’s long-term interests. Even though it is an affluent country the restrictive constitution forced on it after World War II places limitations on Japan’s military and makes it dependent on its ally, the United States.
Murray McLean (Former Australian Ambassador to Japan (2004-2011)) speaks to Professor Nick Bisley (Executive Director, La Trobe Asia) about the impact a...2017-08-0200 minAsia RisingEvent: Asia's Reckoning
For more than half a century, American power in the Pacific has successfully kept the peace. But it has also cemented the tensions in the toxic rivalry between China and Japan, consumed with endless history wars and entrenched political dynasties.
Now, the combination of these forces with Donald Trump's unpredictable impulses and disdain for America's old alliances threatens to upend the region, and accelerate the unravelling of the postwar order. If the United States helped lay the postwar foundations for modern Asia, now the anchor of the global economy, that structure is now crumbling.
2017-08-0100 minAsia Rising#72 Integrated Asia (live)
Globalisation and major power rivalry are creating a China-centric integrated Asian strategic system, drawing together the once-discrete theatres of Northeast, Southeast, South and Central Asia. Nationalist ambition among the region’s giants will make integrated Asia an unstable place where cooperation among the great powers will be much harder to achieve than in the past.
Professor Nick Bisley (Executive Director, La Trobe Asia) speaks to Dr Andrew Carr (Senior Lecturer, Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University) about changing strategic geography.
This podcast was recorded live at the launch the new Centre of...2017-06-2000 minAsia Rising#64 What Does Trump Mean for Asia?
It's no exaggeration that the election of Donald Trump was a shock to the system, and this was no more so than in the Asian region. During his election campaign Trump was abrasive and antagonistic towards many Asian countries, in particular China.
Dr Ashley Townshend (Research Fellow, United States Studies Centre, University of Sydney) talks to Professor Nick Bisley (Executive Director of La Trobe Asia) about Trump's 'America First' approach and what it means for Asia.
Follow Ashley Townshend on Twitter: @ashleytownshend
Follow Nick Bisley on Twitter: @nickbisley2017-03-2000 minAsia Rising#52 Trump vs Clinton vs AsiaThe 2016 United States election is almost upon us, and much of the rhetoric has focused on countries in Asia. Hilary Clinton has made references to 'standing up to bullies', with Donald Trump going several steps further in his comments about China.
Professor Nick Bisley (Executive Director, La Trobe Asia) speaks to Matt Smith about what Clinton or Trump could mean in Asia, and how regional security and economic stability hangs in the balance.2016-10-2500 minAsia Rising#41 Indonesia's Anti-Corruption FightIndonesia has had ongoing problems with corruption since it established democracy in 1998, and while some recent high profile cases have been exposed, it's a problem at every level of government.
Dr Dirk Tomsa (Politics, La Trobe University) talks to Professor Nick Bisley (Executive Director, La Trobe Asia) about Indonesia's ongoing struggle to combat corruption, whether it be exposed through efforts of the KPK, or political machinations.
Copyright 2016 La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Please contact for permissions.2016-05-2400 minAsia Rising#39 Little Comfort for Comfort WomenDuring World War II (and the wider Pacific War) women from many Asian countries were kept in 'comfort stations' for the use of Japanese soldiers.
While Japan has now given ¥1 billion in compensation there is little acknowledgement of the issue, and it has caused tension in particular with neighbouring South Korea.
Dr Nicola Henry (Social Inquiry, La Trobe University) speaks to Professor Nick Bisley (Executive Director, La Trobe Asia) discuss the issue of comfort women, whether the recognition offered is sufficient, and the extent of the political issues.
Copyright 2016 La Trobe University, all r...2016-04-2600 minAsia Rising#37 India and WasteIndia is a country that can overload the senses. One of the most striking features a visitor can notice is the country's seemingly endemic problem with rubbish and pollution.
Professor Robin Jeffrey (Emeritus, La Trobe University) talks to Professor Nick Bisley (Executive Director, La Trobe Asia) about the extent of India's problem with waste, the cultural attitude towards sanitation, and Modi's plan to clean up India.
Follow Nick Bisley on Twitter: www.twitter.com/nickbisley
Copyright 2016 La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Please contact for permissions.2016-03-3000 minAsia Rising#35 India's Sedition ControversyThe recent arrest of Jawaharlal Nehru University student leader Kanhaiya Kumar on the charges of sedition have shaken India, the world's biggest democracy.
Dr Ian Woolford (Hindi Program, La Trobe University) talks to Professor Nick Bisley (Executive Director, La Trobe Asia) about the Modi government reaction and what this crisis means for freedom of speech in India.
Follow Ian Woolford on Twitter: www.twitter.com/iawoolford
Follow Nick Bisley on Twitter: www.twitter.com/nickbisley
Copyright 2016 La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Please contact for permissions.2016-03-0100 minAsia Rising#29 United States Perception of Asia (live)America has an interesting relationship with many Asian countries - on the surface there is polite co-operation and trade, but always with a wary attitude.
Professor Nick Bisley (Executive Director, La Trobe Asia) and Dr Kumuda Simpson (International Relations, La Trobe University) speaks to Matt Smith about United States and their interaction with Asian states.
Recorded in front of a live audience on 11th November, 2015.
Nick Bisley on Twitter: www.twitter.com/nickbisley
Kumuda Simpson on Twitter: www.twitter.com/kumudasimpson
Copyright 2015 La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Please contact...2015-12-2200 minAsia Rising#28 Timor-Leste's Troubled WatersNow an independent democracy, Timor-Leste is struggling to renegotiate treaties and agreements with neighbouring countries, particularly water territories with Australia which could give them better access to dwindling oil fields.
Dr Bec Strating (Department of Politics and Philosophy, La Trobe University) talks to Professor Nick Bisley (Executive Director, La Trobe Asia) on Timor-Leste's motives and challenges in the Timor Gap.
Bec Strating on Twitter: www.twitter.com/becstrating
Nick Bisley on Twitter: www.twitter.com/nickbisley
Copyright 2015 La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Please contact for permissions.2015-12-0700 minAsia RisingTurnbull's Asia (live)Malcolm Turnbull has been the prime minister of Australia for two months, and while he hasn't made significant political moves regarding Asia, we can predict what kind of leadership he might bring.
John Garnaut (Fairfax's Asia Editor) speaks to Professor Nick Bisley (executive director, La Trobe Asia) about the change in political tone Turnbull will bring towards Asia.
Recorded in front of a live audience on 11th November, 2015.
John Garnaut on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jgarnaut
Nick Bisley on Twitter: www.twitter.com/nickbisley
Copyright 2015 La Trobe University, all rights...2015-11-2442 minAsia Rising#27 Turnbull's Asia (live)Malcolm Turnbull has been the prime minister of Australia for two months, and while he hasn't made significant political moves regarding Asia, we can predict what kind of leadership he might bring.
John Garnaut (Fairfax's Asia Editor) speaks to Professor Nick Bisley (executive director, La Trobe Asia) about the change in political tone Turnbull will bring towards Asia.
Recorded in front of a live audience on 11th November, 2015.
John Garnaut on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jgarnaut
Nick Bisley on Twitter: www.twitter.com/nickbisley
Copyright 2015 La Trobe University, all rights...2015-11-2400 minAsia Rising#25 Defining AsiaWhen we talk about the Asia what is the adjective referring to? Is it culture, geography, or somewhere in between?
Assoc. Professor Andrew Phillips (Reader in International Relations and Strategy, University of Queensland) talks to Professor Nick Bisley (Executive Director, La Trobe Asia) about the broad implications of that single word.
Copyright 2015 La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Please contact for permissions.2015-10-2700 minAsia Rising#22 China's Parade: A Celebration or a Warning?China marked the 70th anniversary of Japan's defeat in World War II with a massive military parade which was as much a celebration as it was a show of force to the rest of the world.
Professor Nick Bisley (Executive Director, La Trobe Asia) and Dr James Leibold (Senior lecturer, Department of Politics and Philosophy, La Trobe University) examine the parade and the message that Xi Jinping was trying to send, both domestically and internationally.
Copyright 2015 La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Please contact for permissions.2015-09-1500 minAsia Rising#19 World War II Far From Over in AsiaWith the 70th anniversary of World War II fast approaching in the Asian region, there will be a vastly different take on how the event is celebrated, particularly the Chinese independence from Japan.
Professor Nick Bisley (Director of La Trobe Asia) speaks to Matt Smith about what to expect from both China and Japan, and how the rest of the world will view the events.
Copyright 2015 La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Please contact for permissions.2015-08-0400 minAsia Rising#18 Political Turmoil in East TimorEast Timor is a country struggling with internal conflict, and a young democracy still struggling to assert itself after years of political turmoil.
Dr Jasmine-Kim Westendorf (Lecturer in International Relations, La Trobe University) speaks to Professor Nick Bisley (Director of La Trobe Asia) about the dominant forces at work in East Timor and the news the rest of the world never hears.
Copyright 2015 La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Please contact for permissions.2015-07-2100 minAsia Rising#15 Stand-off in the South China SeasA number of high profile incidents have highlighted the contested territory of the South China Seas, most provocatively China's significant land reclamation and construction activties.
In this episode of Asia Rising, Linda Jakobson (Founding Director of China Matters) talks to Professor Nick Bisley (La Trobe Asia, La Trobe University) about China's controversial activities in the east and south china seas.
Copyright 2015 La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Please contact for permissions.2015-06-0900 minAsia Rising#14 One Year of Modi GovernmentAfter the first year of government Narendra Modi has been presented with a number of challenges, both from within his own party and on a national and international stage.
In this episode of Asia Rising, Dr Ian Hall (School of Government and International Relations, Griffith University) talks to Professor Nick Bisley (La Trobe Asia, La Trobe University) about Modi's first year as Prime Minister of India.
Copyright 2015 La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Please contact for permissions.2015-05-2500 minAsia Rising#13 Nepal's Democracy and Earthquake RecoveryAfter years of civil unrest, will Nepal's struggling democracy survive the recent earthquake?
In this episode of Asia Rising, Dr Jasmine-Kim Westendorf (International Relations, La Trobe University) talks to Professor Nick Bisley (La Trobe Asia, La Trobe University) about Nepal's long road to democracy and future challenges.
Copyright 2015 La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Please contact for permissions.2015-05-1218 minAsia Rising#12 Jokowi's First Six MonthsWhen Joko Widido won the 2014 Indonesian election with a significant popular mandate there was high expectations of the change he would bring to the office.
In this episode of Asia Rising, Dr David McCrae Asia Institute, University of Melbourne) talks to Professor Nick Bisley (La Trobe Asia, La Trobe University) about the effectiveness and difficulties facing Widodo's government.
Copyright 2015 La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Please contact for permissions.2015-04-2900 minAsia Rising#11 Indonesia's Hard Line With ExecutionsThe imminent execution of two Australians by Indonesia due to drug related offenses has put a strain on relationships between the two countries, and presents challenges for the leadership of both Joko Widodo and Tony Abbott.
In this episode of Asia Rising, Dr David McCrae Asia Institute, University of Melbourne) talks to Professor Nick Bisley (La Trobe Asia, La Trobe University) about the diplomatic tensions of capital punishment.
Copyright 2015 La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Please contact for permissions.2015-04-1600 minAsia Rising#10 China Bans the VeilRegional authorities outlawed Islamic veils from all public spaces in the regional capital of China’s Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region.
Professor Nick Bisley (La Trobe Asia, La Trobe University) speaks to Dr James Leibold (Senior Lecturer, Chinese Politics and Asian Studies, La Trobe University) about the provocation and likelihood of this ban succeeding.
Copyright 2015 La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Please contact for permissions.2015-03-0200 minAsia Rising#6 The Popular Protests in Hong KongHong Kong is currently experiencing protests caused by public disagreements over changes to how the Chief Executive of Hong Kong will be selected.
In this episode of Asia Rising, Professor Nick Bisley (La Trobe Asia, La Trobe University) speaks to Dr James Leibold (Senior Lecturer, Chinese Politics and Asian Studies, La Trobe University) look at the development of the popular protests in Hong Kong and how they might play out.2014-10-0600 minAsia Rising#5 A Year of Abbott in AsiaDuring his first year of office, Prime Minister Tony Abbott has conducted a surprisingly energetic and focused foreign policy. He's visited a number of countries in the Asian region and furthered Australia's interests by signing fair trade agreements with Japan and South Korea, as well as making progress in relationships with both China and India.
In this episode of Asia Rising, Professor Nick Bisley (La Trobe Asia, La Trobe University) speaks to host Matt Smith about Abbott's interactions with Asia in his first year of office.2014-09-1900 minAsia RisingA Year of Abbott in AsiaDuring his first year of office, Prime Minister Tony Abbott has conducted a surprisingly energetic and focused foreign policy. He's visited a number of countries in the Asian region and furthered Australia's interests by signing fair trade agreements with Japan and South Korea, as well as making progress in relationships with both China and India.
In this episode of Asia Rising, Professor Nick Bisley (La Trobe Asia, La Trobe University) speaks to host Matt Smith about Abbott's interactions with Asia in his first year of office.2014-09-1918 minAsia Rising#4 Japan's Emerging Place in AsiaJapan has had a re-energised approach to the global stage under the leadership of Prime Minister Shinzō Abe, so how has this altered its relationship with its neighbours and the power balance in the region?
Professor Nick Bisley (Executive Director of La Trobe Asia) and Dr David Envall (Convenor, Department of International Relations, Australian National University) discuss Japan’s increasing active engagement with foreign powers and the challenges facing Shinzō Abe.2014-08-0100 min