Views from Down Underer

Hezbollah-Israel conflict, US strategy in the Mideast, Sikh referendum in NZ, RNZN ship sinks in Samoa

We examine the implications of the conflict in the Mideast to our region and discuss a recent essay in Foreign Affairs that calls for a change of approach to US Mideast strategy.  The Khalistan movement has supporters in NZ that are holding a referendum on Sikh independence.  Then the sad news of the sinking of the RNZN survey ship in Samoa while doing a survey of the seabed.

Asia Power index, China and changing power in East Asia talk by Prof Robert Ross of Boston College

Lowy Institute released its new Asia Power index, we discuss the method and design of this power index.  How does the construction of an index affects the rankings of countries?  

Research on Pacific maritime spaces, Harris/Trump debate, US electoral battleground states

We chat about two research papers we conducted on Pacific maritime space.  One research is about Fiji and Solomon Islands and how these two countries exercise their agency and the second paper is on fisheries and maritime security issues.  We then talk about our own impressions of the US presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.  Lastly, we discuss a BBC article on the battleground states in this November's US presidential election.  Does issue saliency affected by the politics within these battleground states?

Indonesia-China the next stoush in the South China Sea, a possible standoff between the Global South and China and Pope Francis in Southeast Asia

Indonesian activity in the South China Sea is increasing as the country builds its own military bases in disputed waters while ferreting out Chinese fishing vessels that intrude into their EEZ. Is this another conflict that adds to an already tense theatre? Chinese industrial overcapacity has seen protectionist actions by members of the Global South, what does this mean for Chinese ambitions as a leader of this group and its own domestic concerns? Pope Francis was in Southeast Asia, praising the diversity and social harmony in the region, what lessons can the rest of the world take from the experiences of the Southeast Asian nations in building diverse societies?

Danger of planning for peaked China? US urged to dropped obsession of being Number 1

Two articles published in prominent foreign policy magazines from well-known observers of international affairs of the Asia-Pacific.  Ryan Haas in his article suggested that US planning policies on the basis of peaked China is not a good idea.  Second article is a letter from Singapore to the next US president urging the US to stopped being so obsessed with being number 1.

Japan PM Kishida steps down, Thailand has new PM, Jokowi maneuvering behind the scenes, and NZ PM Luxon's speech at Lowy in Sydney

Japan PM Kishida steps down and opens up new leadership contest within the LDP.  Is it 'plus ca change' in the case of Japanese politics?  Clan politics seem to be the name of the game in two Southeast Asian countries -- Thailand and Indonesia.  Thailand's new PM is the formerly exiled Thaksin Shinawatra's daughter and the Shinawatra family seem to be on the mend with other significant actors in Thailand.  Indonesia's outgoing president Jokowi was supposed to be the outsider but now seems to be ensuring that his family/clan will be signficant insiders in Indonesian politics.  Lastly, NZ PM Chris Luxon gave an important foreign policy speech in Sydney.  So now that Luxon talks the talk, the question remains is can he also walk the walk considering the difficult economic situation NZ finds itself in today. 

Hullaballoo of the upcoming US elections: observations from the ground

The US election in November is creating lots of anxieties globally.  Despite the excitement with the Kamala Harris candidacy, questions remain about what is likely to happen the day after the first Tuesday of November.  What does a Harris presidency mean Asia-Pacific?  What does a second Trump administration mean for international relations of Asia-Pacific?

Geography, International Relations Theory, and Understanding the International Relations of the Asia-Pacific

Theories of international relations have been constructed from experiences of continental Europe.  Yet, in the Asia-Pacific it seems like a uneasy fit because of the complex geography of the region.  In this episode, Dr Kelly Grieco of the Stimson Center in Washington DC explains to us her research on geography and its implications to coalition-building in the Asia-Pacific region.  

UK Foreign Minister visits India, Trump playing the race card again, Central Bank and the inflation-interest rate conundrum

UK foreign minister David Lammy visits India very early into the new Labour government term in the hopes of resetting UK-India relations and mark by a focus on the importance of trade and economics.  Trump in an appearance at the National Association of Black Journalists made a controversial comment on presumptive Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris' Black and Indian dual identities.  Trump's comment shows an ignorance of identity code-switching.  Lastly, global central banks seem to feel that the worse of pandemic era inflation is at an end but when to start moving interest rates downward is still more art than science.  

Joe Biden out and Kamala Harris in, Bangladesh riots, Japan's population decline, NZ PM's low approval rating, and Olympic spying scandal

US President Joe Biden has dropped out of the 2024 presidential race and VP Kamala Harris is in the race.  Is this the shot in the arm that the Democrats are looking for? Will the Democrats be able to retain the White House?  Deadly riots in Bangladesh due to student protests on job quotas.  Is there more to these riots that what meets the eye?  Japan reported a 15th year of population decline.  What are the implications of continued shrinking population?  NZ PM Luxon has been on the job less than 12 months and already his approval ratings have dropped.  Why?  Paris Olympic has started and even before the Olympic flame has been lit in the opening ceremony, a spying scandal involving the Canada's women football team has dented the idea of 'fair play' that the Olympics stand for.