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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.

The Philippines

Philippines’ plan to fortify coastal defences: deterrence or target?

The plan to establish coastal defence assets in Palawan is unlikely to close the country’s military gap with China, analysts say.

17 Jul 2026 - 6:16PM

My Take

My Take | How China’s rare missile test sparked hysterical hypocrisy

13 Jul 2026 - 9:01AM

China-Asean relations

Asian Angle | Why a second ‘China shock’ is good for Southeast Asia

12 Jul 2026 - 2:30PM

Singapore

US touts regional ‘balance’ in missile sale to Singapore. What does it mean?

The latest deal sheds light on distinct strategies in a broader American policy of ‘distributed deterrence’, analysts say.

3 Jul 2026 - 7:52PMvideocam

A model of a Hellfire missile attached under the wing of an MQ-9 Reaper military drone during a demonstration in Chateaubernard, France. Photo: AFP

Defence

US and allies flex military muscle on China’s doorstep with multi-front drills

Analysts say the near-simultaneous exercises reflect a shift in US strategy that enables allies to play a greater role in regional security.

26 Jun 2026 - 5:44PM

India

‘Senseless’: US military command rebrand risks damaging India ties

Eight years after ‘Indo’ was added to signal India’s importance, analysts say its removal points to a shift in Washington’s priorities.

24 Jun 2026 - 7:30PMvideocam

US-China relations

Australian public cooling on Trump’s US while thawing on China, survey finds

US military plans permanent war-ready weapons stockpile in Australia

US Navy documents show advanced planning for a large stockpile, with US$30 million allocated to build warehouses and offices in Victoria.

16 Jun 2026 - 6:46PM

Australia

China’s direct strike threat to Australia is ‘growing’, think tank report finds

A Lowy Institute report said the main threat to Australia was from Chinese missiles fired from ships, submarines and a new ballistic missile.

15 Jun 2026 - 1:37AM

Asean

Asean at 60: peace, prosperity and polite paralysis

Non-interference bought decades of stability, but now breeds inaction. Is Asean due an overhaul?

13 Jun 2026 - 8:00AMvideocam

Donald Trump

Trump’s forced-labour tariffs put Southeast Asia in the firing line

Washington’s proposed tariffs of 10 per cent to 12.5 per cent could push regional countries to accelerate economic integration.

9 Jun 2026 - 4:58PM

Asean leaders gather at the opening ceremony of bloc’s summit in Cebu last month. Seven Asean members are in Washington’s list of 60 economies targeted for “forced labour” tariffs. Photo: AP

India

Why India is rolling out welcome mat for Myanmar’s Min Aung Hlaing

The military leader’s first presidential trip to New Delhi signals pragmatic engagement as India moves to counter rising Chinese influence.

2 Jun 2026 - 8:12AM

Myanmar

Myanmar’s China-backed mega dam revival risks Kachin rebel backlash

Restarting the shelved US$3.6 billion Myitsone Dam project could ultimately come down to Beijing’s ‘risk tolerance’.

1 Jun 2026 - 8:00AM

US-Asean relations

Tariffs, war and broken trust: Southeast Asia’s Trump problem

Disillusioned by US unpredictability, the region is learning to diversify – while Trump treats allies as bargaining chips.

30 May 2026 - 7:30AM

The Philippines

Philippine navy’s ‘aspirational’ middle power claim comes under scrutiny

The navy based its assessment partly on regional partners admiring its newer ships that were deployed in recent joint exercises.

20 May 2026 - 11:00AMvideocam

Philippine navy sailors stand on the deck of BRP Miguel Malvar, a corvette acquired from South Korea, in Subic town, Zambales province, north of Manila, in April last year. Photo: AFP/Handout/Philippine Navy-Public Affairs Office

Asean

Canada pushes to finalise Asean trade deal to cut US reliance

Ottawa is keen to sign an FTA with Asean this year, as analysts predict two-way growth in sectors ranging from mining to manufacturing.

15 May 2026 - 4:28PM

Myanmar

‘Tentative step’: Asean weighs bringing Myanmar back into the fold

Virtual talks may offer a ‘sensible middle ground’ for reconciliation after Myanmar’s years in the political wilderness, analysts say.

12 May 2026 - 5:07PMvideocam

US-China relations

Why today’s ‘unravelled’ international order echoes the lead-up to WWI

Dangerous pre-war conditions are here following raft of unilateral actions taken by Trump administration, ex-senior White House adviser says.

8 May 2026 - 12:35PM

US President Donald Trump, backed by his Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth (centre) and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has taken a raft of unilateral actions leaving the international order altered. Photo: Reuters

Myanmar

Myanmar’s military rulers hire Trump ally for US$50,000 a month to lobby Washington

Roger Stone has been commissioned to rebuild relations with the US, though analysts doubt Myanmar can escape its pariah status.

7 May 2026 - 4:13PM

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

US funding for the Asia-Pacific now ties aid to business and security wins, a move analysts condemn as a ‘corrosive’ shift.

11 Jan 2026 - 4:00PM

US President Donald Trump meets fishermen and women from American Samoa in the White House last year as he signs a proclamation expanding US fishing rights in the Pacific. Photo: EPA-EFE

US-China relations

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

Think tank says China may weather geopolitical environment but neighbours are ‘anxious about rising tensions and protectionism’.

10 Dec 2025 - 9:53PMvideocam

Presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump ahead of their meeting in Busan, South Korea, on October 30. Photo: AP

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-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

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (left) and Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister James Marape attend a flag lowering ceremony in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, on September 16. Photo: AP

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

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Lowy Institute

Philippines’ plan to fortify coastal defences: deterrence or target?

The plan to establish coastal defence assets in Palawan is unlikely to close the country’s military gap with China, analysts say.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}My Take | How China’s rare missile test sparked hysterical hypocrisy

Asian Angle | Why a second ‘China shock’ is good for Southeast Asia

US touts regional ‘balance’ in missile sale to Singapore. What does it mean?

The latest deal sheds light on distinct strategies in a broader American policy of ‘distributed deterrence’, analysts say.

US and allies flex military muscle on China’s doorstep with multi-front drills

Analysts say the near-simultaneous exercises reflect a shift in US strategy that enables allies to play a greater role in regional security.

‘Senseless’: US military command rebrand risks damaging India ties

Eight years after ‘Indo’ was added to signal India’s importance, analysts say its removal points to a shift in Washington’s priorities.

Australian public cooling on Trump’s US while thawing on China, survey finds

More than half of those questioned said relations with Beijing were more important than those with Washington.

US military plans permanent war-ready weapons stockpile in Australia

US Navy documents show advanced planning for a large stockpile, with US$30 million allocated to build warehouses and offices in Victoria.

China’s direct strike threat to Australia is ‘growing’, think tank report finds

A Lowy Institute report said the main threat to Australia was from Chinese missiles fired from ships, submarines and a new ballistic missile.

Asean at 60: peace, prosperity and polite paralysis

Non-interference bought decades of stability, but now breeds inaction. Is Asean due an overhaul?

Trump’s forced-labour tariffs put Southeast Asia in the firing line

Washington’s proposed tariffs of 10 per cent to 12.5 per cent could push regional countries to accelerate economic integration.

Why India is rolling out welcome mat for Myanmar’s Min Aung Hlaing

The military leader’s first presidential trip to New Delhi signals pragmatic engagement as India moves to counter rising Chinese influence.

Myanmar’s China-backed mega dam revival risks Kachin rebel backlash

Restarting the shelved US$3.6 billion Myitsone Dam project could ultimately come down to Beijing’s ‘risk tolerance’.

Tariffs, war and broken trust: Southeast Asia’s Trump problem

Disillusioned by US unpredictability, the region is learning to diversify – while Trump treats allies as bargaining chips.

Philippine navy’s ‘aspirational’ middle power claim comes under scrutiny

The navy based its assessment partly on regional partners admiring its newer ships that were deployed in recent joint exercises.

Canada pushes to finalise Asean trade deal to cut US reliance

Ottawa is keen to sign an FTA with Asean this year, as analysts predict two-way growth in sectors ranging from mining to manufacturing.

‘Tentative step’: Asean weighs bringing Myanmar back into the fold

Virtual talks may offer a ‘sensible middle ground’ for reconciliation after Myanmar’s years in the political wilderness, analysts say.

Why today’s ‘unravelled’ international order echoes the lead-up to WWI

Dangerous pre-war conditions are here following raft of unilateral actions taken by Trump administration, ex-senior White House adviser says.

Myanmar’s military rulers hire Trump ally for US$50,000 a month to lobby Washington

Roger Stone has been commissioned to rebuild relations with the US, though analysts doubt Myanmar can escape its pariah status.

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

US funding for the Asia-Pacific now ties aid to business and security wins, a move analysts condemn as a ‘corrosive’ shift.

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

Think tank says China may weather geopolitical environment but neighbours are ‘anxious about rising tensions and protectionism’.

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.

My Take | How China’s rare missile test sparked hysterical hypocrisy