How China-linked foreign interference - blending covert ops with the extraterritorial reach of Hong Kong’s national security law - intersects with Australia’s policy settings, and the enduring trade-offs they face. My latest in @acri-uts.bsky.social Perspectives bit.ly/45h5uOR

Australia is right to object to the broad and extraterritorial reach of Hong Kong’s national security laws. When open discussion and democratic expression are treated as threats, it strikes at the freedoms that sustain open societies

15 overseas activists, including Australian academic Feng Chongyi (UTS), are the most recent targets of bounties issued under Hong Kong's national security legislation. Freedom of expression and assembly, and peaceful, open debate are central to the strength of any democracy and must be upheld

As Prime Minister Anthony Albanese concludes his second visit to China as leader, I share some reflections in a piece for Asialink: bit.ly/4nR7O6b The tone of the PM's visit reflected a government more certain of its footing.

Sussan Ley's shadow ministry👇

Fair - term not being used in the formal sense but rather more broadly to include both the Liberals and Nationals as despite the Nats sitting on the crossbench, they’d indicated they’ll continue to work closely with the Libs on key issues. Appreciate using that specific term muddies things though

Yesterday, the National Party formally withdrew from its longstanding partnership with the Liberal Party. What does the Coalition split mean for opposition coherence on China policy? I lay out David Littleproud and the Nationals’ positioning in an @acri-uts.bsky.social brief bit.ly/4jbnHkA

Although she has never held a foreign affairs portfolio, Ley’s public record reveals a consistent, if evolving, approach to China policy, blending support for economic engagement with a hardening stance on national security

Following Sussan Ley’s election as leader of the Liberal Party yesterday, the Coalition enters a new phase. I examine Ley’s track record on China and the implications for opposition foreign policy in a new @acri-uts.bsky.social brief bit.ly/4iTgnK5

On the Australian federal election results, a comprehensive initial breakdown of how Australian-Chinese communities voted and what propelled their votes by my @acri-uts.bsky.social colleague Wanning Sun bit.ly/4jSqhwM

Senator Jane Hume calls Australian-Chinese volunteers for the ALP "Chinese spies":

"There might be Chinese spies that are handing out for you but for us there's dozens, thousands, hundreds of young people that are out there handing out how-to-vote cards for the Liberal Party"

Full report: bit.ly/4jFerpo

In @thediplomat.com, a companion piece that distills the key findings of my @acri-uts.bsky.social report 'Framing the future: Australia’s China policy in the lead-up to the 2025 election' bit.ly/4jSOhQ9

As Australia heads into an election, I examine how the two major parties are positioning their messaging and policy on China and how these positions are evolving under increased international pressure and domestic scrutiny in a new @acri-uts.bsky.social report bit.ly/4jFerpo

Exec summary 👇

Recordings are now available for 'ChAFTA: Assessing outcomes a decade on', featuring Trade Minister Don Farrell, former Trade Ministers Andrew Robb and Craig Emerson, columnist Glenda Korporaal, PRC Min-Counsellor Gao Feng, and @j-laurenceson.bsky.social

Video: bit.ly/42k1bzy
Audio: bit.ly/4crRDXW

This year’s survey was conducted from January 3 2025 to February 15 2025, straddling Trump's inauguration.

Interesting series of results from the 2025 State of Southeast Asia survey. China remains most influential economic/political-strategic power in the region, but US has overtaken it to become prevailing choice if region were forced to align itself with one of the two www.iseas.edu.sg/centres/asea...

A tight race & long 5 weeks ahead. Cost of living dominates, the issue of China, used as a wedge issue in '22, notable this time around for what isn't being said. Both parties likely to keep ramping up efforts to woo Aus-Chinese communities to help secure marginal seats www.bbc.com/news/article...

As we near 10 yrs since ChAFTA's signing, join @acri-uts.bsky.social & the ACBC to hear from Trade Minister Don Farrell and former trade ministers Robb & Emerson, w/ mod Glenda Korporaal. @j-laurenceson.bsky.social will also present the findings of a forthcoming analysis of the deal bit.ly/4j3ynSD

Apply now for the China Matters-UTS:ACRI Fellowship 2025-2026

The Fellowship is an opportunity for an Australian early-career researcher in the field of China Studies, examining issues of policy relevance for Australia. More information: bit.ly/3QPqjIY