Asia and Pacific

Malaysia has been independent from Britain since 1957, but the 133 years of British colonisation has left an impact on social, cultural and legal infrastructure of Malaysia. Whether or not to allow the continuity of this impact, or to reject this legacy, is an ongoing debate in Malaysia.

The future shape of Japan’s Myanmar policy depends on who wins the LDP leadership election. Despite their membership of the same political party, the candidates’ respective political positions vary considerably.

West Papua is not recognised by the UN to be a Non-Self-Governing Territory (NSGT). However, there have been ongoing violent and passive protests and movements calling for independence.

17 August, 2021 HSC Deputy Director Dr Rowan Allport has had a comment piece on Taiwan’s approach to deterrence published in The Diplomat. In it, he examines how the Taipei government is developing a capability via both its domestic industry ...

15 August, 2021 HSC Associate Fellow Roh Yakobi, who fled persecution by the Taliban at aged 12, has commented in the media regarding current developments in Afghanistan. Interviewed on Sky News, he said that the people in Afghanistan would now be forced ...

When it comes to the Euro-Atlantic region’s relations with Beijing, the former is likely to maintain a cautious approach. The People’s Republic of China needs to be kept in check, but a door for dialogue and collaboration must be kept open.

Japan and Taiwan share complex bilateral relations. An important element of this complexity is that while the dispute over Senkaku Islands is principally between Japan and China, Taiwan also claims them as its own territory.

Unlike other liberal democracies, Australia’s legal protection of human rights is not through a Bill of Rights or human rights legislation, but through various Constitutional, common law and statutory protections.

Owing to Central Asia’s geographical proximity and historical links to both Russia and China, it is understandable that the activities of both powers in this region receive the most attention. There is, however, one other power whose influence and activities in the region are often left out of the equation: Japan

Australia is a destination country for trafficked victims, particularly women from Southeast Asia, who are coerced into moving to Australia under the belief they will obtain better working conditions upon arrival. However, once in the country, these women are often forced into modern slavery in the sex industry to repay traffickers’ exaggerated fees.