Is the Rudd Government’s new Defence White Paper more of the same or a significant departure from the previous strategic orthodoxy? More importantly, is it affordable, and will future governments commit to the level of spending necessary to ensure that the White Paper’s ambitious goals for the Australian Defence Force are realised? What about the strategic judgements underpinning the decisions on spending and force structure? Is concern about China’s burgeoning military power real, or merely Defence ‘spin’ designed to justify expensive acquisitions?
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Inflection point the ADF after Afghanistan
On 29 March 2012, in the Lowy Lecture Series, Professor Alan Dupont launched his a new Lowy Institute Policy Brief, ‘Inflection Point: The Australian Defence Force after Afghanistan’, which suggests that as the ADF transitions from involvement in the Afghanistan conflict the risks of failing to adjust and adapt to new security circumstances are especially high.
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Living With The Dragon: Why Australia needs a China strategy
At the Wednesday Lunch on 22 June, Professor Alan Dupont spoke about his new Lowy Institute Policy Brief, ‘Living with the Dragon: Why Australia needs a China strategy’.
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U.S. Security Interests: Aims and Challenges in an Evolving Asia
Sustaining Stability, Coping with Conflict, Building Cooperation?
Except for the problem of North Korea, East Asia has been a region of comparative stability. U.S.-PRC relations have continued a long period of stability despite the frictions that have accompanied China’s rise. Cross-Strait relations have warmed rapidly. U.S.-Japan security ties have remained strong, underpinned by common regional interests and concerns.
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