Asia Rising

Now 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...

2014 was a watershed year in Australia-India relations. Not only had Modi and Abbott struck up a great rapport, the two countries' economic, strategic and political stars appeared finally to have aligned. Professor Nick Bisley (Executive Director, La Trobe Asia) looks at Australia and India's relationship. Have all the roadblocks been cleared, and do their interests align in quite the way the opti...

China has announced a relaxing of the family planning policy, with a change of the existing law to a two-child policy beginning March 2016. Dr James Leibold (Politics and Philosophy, La Trobe University) discusses how the one-child policy has impacted China, if it was effective, and whether the change will come in time. Follow James Leibold on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jleibold Theme music: Asian W...

When 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. Andrew Phillips on Twitter: www.twitter.com/APhillipsIntRel...

China's economy is in a state of transition, and its success and failure has an impact on a global level. Dr Geoff Raby (Australia's Ambassador to China from 2007-2011, director of his Beijing-based business advisory company – Geoff Raby and Associates Ltd) speaks to Professor Nick Bisley (Executive Director, La Trobe Asia) about how the Chinese economy is transitioning and the changes it needs to...

Australia has a relationship of mutual respect on the surface, but there are also deep concerns about the broader consequences of China's return as a great power. Linda Jakobson, John Lee, Bob Carr and Geoff Raby discuss the complex relationship, the recent fall of the Chinese economy and its repercussions for Australia, and the implications of the highly controversial Free Trade Agreement. Chaire...

North Korea has an image of dire poverty and famine, but thanks to trade with Russia and China the economy is a dynamic space and fast developing. Dr Benjamin Habib (Politics and International Relations, La Trobe University) speaks to Professor Nick Bisley (Executive Director, La Trobe University) about the impact of North Korea's development and the emergence of the 'donju', the middle class. Fol...

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 tryin...

The relationship between Australia and India will face challenges in the future, the extent to which these continue and the ongoing need to work hard, on both sides, to improve links not just between Canberra and Delhi but between our societies more broadly. John McCarthy AO FAIIA (Former Australian ambassador and High Commissioner to India (2004-2009), Professor Ian Hall (Griffith Business School...

Dr Jasmine-Kim Westendorf (International Relations, La Trobe University) examines the unconventional approach taken in the peace process in Nepal and how it affected the establishment and consolidation of peace. Her book "Negotiating Insecurity: Why Peace Processes Fail in Civil Wars" has just been released by Lynne Rienner Publishers. This was a guest lecture delivered to the Melbourne South Asia...

Hindi poet and political leader Dr Kumar Vishwas lectures on the place of poetry in Indian culture, drawing on his own experience as a well-known performer at Hindi poetry gatherings. The lecture covers a wide range of poetic ground: from the relationship between folk and literary traditions, to Hindi satirists and their critiques of government, to the three generations of women in Dr Vishwas’s ow...

The major political parties have joined together to convince us that asylum seekers must be prevented from coming to Australia. However, they have not explained why asylum seekers attempt to come to Australia in the first place or what the consequences of Australia's deterrence policies might be for asylum seekers and countries in the region. At this forum Mary Anne Kenny (an Australian lawyer) ha...

The Indian Ocean is often thought of with a post World War II context, but it's had a long history prior to this when empires in the area struggled for dominance. 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 early growth of empire and the beginning of European...

In 2014 after judicial reforms China decided local trials will be held in several locations, on being the Guizhou Povince. The Hon. Sun Chao (President and Chief Justice of the Guizhou High Court) delivers a lecture on the progress of these reforms, intended to uphold efficiency, fairness and justice as the fundamental principles underpinning the Chinese judiciary. Translated by Professor Jianfu C...

Jo Hong-ju (Republic of Korea's Consul-General to Victoria) presents a South Korean perspective of inter-korean politics, and the fundemental divide between north and south. A “Contemporary Politics in Northeast Asia” lecture from the La Trobe University Department of Politics and Philosophy and La Trobe Asia. Introduced by Dr Benjamin Habib, (Lecturer in international relations, La Trobe Universi...

North Korea is vulnerable to climate change, and experiences problems of food insecurity. It has an active relationship with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), brought on largely by a strong incentives program. Dr Benjamin Habib (International Relations, La Trobe University) speaks to Matt Smith North Korea’s climate change efforts and compliance with the UNFCCC, and explains...

How much does the ordinary Chinese person know and understand about Australia? Li Jianjun (Director of the Australian Studies Centre at Beijing Foreign Studies University and Secretary-General of the National Association of Australian Studies in China) talks about his research into the Chinese knowledge of Australia, looking at politics, culture, environment, immigration and Aboriginal issues.

With 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. Nick Bisley on Twitter: www.t...

East Timor is a country with a young democracy under threat from internal conflict, and it is 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 hear...

Australia has made refugee and asylum seeker issues a cornerstone of their political debate and excessive lengths have been taken to prevent asylum seekers from reaching Australia by boat. Julian Burnside (Barrister and human rights advocate) speaks to host Matt Smith about Australia's perceived asylum seeker problem and how there might be a better solution. Julian Burnside on Twitter: www.twitter...

The population of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands have emigrated far, from Indonesia to Western Australia, but have maintained a strong community and bartered goods through the use of Facebook. In this episode of Asia Rising, Dr Nicholas Herriman (Anthropology, La Trobe University) speaks to host Matt Smith about the Cocos (Keeling) Island community and gift-giving. You can follow Nicholas Herriman on...

A 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 ch...

After 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...

After 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. Nick Bisley on Twitter: www.twitter.com/nickbisley Jasmine-Kim Westendorf...

When 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. Twitter: David M...