Asia Rising

Since 2017, more than a million Uyghurs and members of other Turkic Muslim minorities have disappeared into a vast network of ‘re-education camps’ in the far west region of Xinjiang in what some experts call a systematic, government-led program of cultural genocide. Now it appears that plans have entered a new phase, as government officials now claim that all ‘trainees’ have ‘graduated’. There is...

Asia has been coping with the coronavirus in a variety of ways. Some regions, such as China, Hong Kong and South Korea, have reached a point where they are living with it. Others, such as India, Indonesia and the Philippines, are just emerging with cases, and due to low testing it’s hard to get a full picture of the situation. In this episode of Asia Rising, we will hear from three countries in lo...

The South China Seas comprises a large international body of water south of Taiwan. There are island and maritime claims from a number of sovereign states in the region, and is economically important as a commercial gateway for merchant shipping. While much has been said on the arena of competition between the US and China, much less ink has been spilt on comparing the approaches of regional non-c...

Since 2017, more than a million Uyghurs and members of other Turkic Muslim minorities have disappeared into a vast network of ‘re-education camps’ in the far west region of Xinjiang, China, in what some experts call a systematic, government-led program of cultural genocide. The ‘re-education' appears to be entering a new phase, as government officials now claim that all ‘trainees’ have ‘graduated’...

What started as a protest against a proposed new law, which would see people extradited from Hong Kong to mainland China to face Beijing-style justice, has now turned into a battle for the future of Hong Kong. Sophie McNeill, a Walkley award winning journalist for the ABC television program 4 corners, was on the frontlines of Hong Kong's democracy protests. Guest: Sophie McNeill (Reporter, 4 Corne...

With the coronavirus pandemic spreading throughout the world the long-term effects are hard to project, and many are starting to question how a global event like this could alter the Asian economy and the balance of power. Guest: Professor Nick Bisley (Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, La Trobe University) Recorded 13 March, 2020

The Indo-Pacific is both a place and an idea. It is the region central to global prosperity and security. It is also a metaphor for collective action. If diplomacy fails, it will be the theatre of the first general war since 1945. But if its future can be secured, the Indo-Pacific will flourish as a shared space, the centre of gravity in a connected world. Not only is the Indo-Pacific the area whe...

For months the citizens of Hong Kong have been taking to the streets, protesting democratic deterioration and rights violations. There have been frequent clashes with police, outbreaks of violence and widespread disruption to the city. As the new year begins the movement shows little sign of relenting, and while it has had some success it would take serious changes in mainland China for broader de...

North Korea is one the world's most authoritarian and isolated countries, cut off from global trade and Western influence. Yet, its doors remain open to tourists, who the government welcomes and is keen to show the North Korea it wants them to see. Guest: James Scullin (Tour leader in North Korea, co-author: The Hotels of Pyongyang) Find out more about the book: www.instagram.com/hotelsofnorthkore...

Violence against women and gender activism became central issues in Indonesia during the 2019 elections. The growing importance of these issues and events is a sign of how successful they have been at rallying supporters in the digital media environment. Guest: Dr Monika Winarnita (Honorary Research Fellow, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, La Trobe University) Recorded 5 December, 2019.

The mountains of the Himalaya are instantly recognisable, and they play a critical role in Asia’s climate, hydrology, ecology, and geopolitics. Despite their regional and global importance, they face multiple, severe, and intersecting threats that do not receive the attention they deserve. Speakers: Dr Alexander E. Davis (New Generation Network Research Fellow, Politics, La Trobe University) Dr Ru...

Japan’s national security is rapidly changing. Asia is shifting from an era of prosperity and peace to one of contestation and rivalry between powerful leaders. North Korea has grown emboldened and appears no closer to denuclearisation than when Kim Jong Un embraced dialogue with US President, Donald Trump, in 2017. Xi Jinping’s China is more confident, assertive and nationalistic than ever, and t...

When Tibet was invaded by China in the 1950s the Dalai Lama and many Tibetans left, finding a new home in India. Over the years this population has grown, now overseen by a Central Tibetan authority which has never been formally integrated into India. While this has allowed Tibetans to retain their culture and religion, it’s added challenges when it comes to citizenship. Guest: Associate Professor...

Australian universities rely heavily on China for both students and research investment, but engagement brings considerable risk. Technology theft is common, and awareness of how research is being applied is necessary for institutional security. Guest: Alex Joske (Analyst, Australian Strategic Policy Institute) Recorded on 24 October, 2019.

The snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas are instantly recognisable, but the critical role these mountains play in Asia’s climate, hydrology, ecology and geopolitics is mostly underplayed. Despite this importance, or perhaps because of them, there are a number of threats to the environment, many of which intersect, and the Himalayas will need careful management and thoughtful intervention if they ar...

The ice-capped peaks of the Himalaya are instantly recognisable and play a critical role in Asia's climate, hydrology, ecology and geopolitics. Despite this importance the mountains are also the site of international border disputes, ethnic unrest, competitive development and ongoing environmental and cultural destruction. Guest: Dr Ruth Gamble (David Myers Research Fellow, La Trobe University) Dr...

A traditional Tibetan proverb tells that every valley has its river and every village has its own language. These languages are an important part of the Tibetan identity, and and there is much debate among the wider Tibetan diaspora as to how to teach and preserve them. Guest: Dr Tsering Shakya (Associate Professor, Research Chair in Religion and Contemporary Society in Asia, Institute for Asian R...

In October 2019 the People's Republic of China celebrated its 70th anniversary with pomp, parades and pageantry. This lecture Asia examines the highs and lows, the failures and its successes of the PRC through the 27 Mao Zedong years and the 43 years since then, of Deng Xiaoping's reform-and-opening followed by Xi Jinping's New Era for "socialism with Chinese characteristics." A China Studies Rese...

Thae Yong-ho is a former North Korean diplomat to the United Kingdom who defected to South Korea in 2016. As the highest ranking North Korean official to defect, he has a unique perspective on North Korean politics, reunification with South Korea, and the Kim regime. Guest: Thae Yong-Ho (North Korean Defector, former North Korean deputy ambassador to the UK). Follow La Trobe Asia on Twitter: www.t...

The decision to defect from North Korea is not undertaken lightly, but for those in prominent positions it can be particularly fraught. The fates of Kim’s half-brother, Kim Jong Nam, and uncle, Jang Song Thaek underline the risks of disloyalty to the regime. In this special in-conversation event Thae Yong Ho, a prominent North Korean defector and former North Korean deputy ambassador to the United...

On 30 June Donald Trump became the first serving US President to step into North Korea. Heavy on symbolism, the meeting with Kim Jong Un suggested a renewed impetus towards easing nuclear tensions. Guest: Professor Gordon Flake (CEO,Perth USAsia Centre, University of Western Australia). Follow Gordon Flake on Twitter: www.twitter.com/lgflake Follow La Trobe Asia on Twitter: www.twitter.com/latrobe...

Australia is one of the few countries whose shores lap both the Indian and Pacific oceans, and the old adage of “where you stand depends upon where you sit” rings true. From Western Australia, the “Indo” component of the Indo-Pacific has clear geographical clarity. Western Australians look north and west to rising India and rising Indonesia. From the east coast of Australia, developments in the Pa...

For the past twenty years Pakistan has wrestled with terrorism. More than 60,000 Pakistanis have been killed as a result of terrorist attacks. Terrorism has caused tension with Pakistan’s neighbouring countries, with Iran, India and Afghanistan accusing Pakistan of complicity in attacks on their soil. It has also complicated Pakistan's relations with the United States, especially after the discove...

India’s government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has made a controversial move to usurp power from Jammu and Kashmir, the nation’s only Muslim-majority state, Modi says the move marked "a new era" that would free the region of "terrorism and separatism". The actions sparked outcry and unrest over the divided Himalayan territory, which both India and Pakistan claim in its entirety. Guest: A...

For a long time Australia has taken it for granted that America can uphold the old US-led regional order by containing China’s bid to become the region’s leading power – which would keep us safe from any major threats from China. That is no longer something that is assured. Guest: Professor Hugh White (Emeritus, Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University) Follow La Trobe...