The Interpreter

Posted: 192

Author Profile

The Interpreter is published by the Lowy Institute, an independent, nonpartisan think tank based in Sydney. It publishes daily commentary and analysis on international events.

  • Confirm
  • .

2023/03/29 | The Interpreter

Japan Feels the Pinch As Fertilizer Costs Soar Thanks to Russia’s War

Russia’s war in Ukraine disrupted the flow of resources like natural gas, on which the production of chemical fertilizers relies heavily.

2023/03/15 | The Interpreter

Japan and South Korea: A Logical but Uneasy Alignment

Is a compensation deal to right colonial-era wrongs part of a strategic shift towards rapprochement?

2023/03/06 | The Interpreter

The Sky Is No Longer the Limit: Australia and East Asia in Space

East Asia offers an example of the enduring power and role of government, in which the Government-Space business relationship is well positioned to ensure the industry’s growth is sustainable, not just driven by private interests.

2023/02/22 | The Interpreter

Wang Yi’s Fruitless Diplomacy in Europe

Wang’s chances of reinvigorating relations with Europe appear fruitless due to both the atmospherics surrounding his tour and Beijing’s inability (or unwillingness) to see how Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has reshaped European security perceptions

2023/02/14 | The Interpreter

Why North Korea Is Denying Its Involvement in Russia’s War in Ukraine

Pyongyang appears to be a reluctant participant in Putin’s brutal offensive in Eastern Europe.

2023/02/09 | The Interpreter

China’s Growth Prospects After Zero-Covid

Despite the IMF upgrading its GDP projection, China is facing major downward pressures that seem likely to constrain its recovery, in both the short and medium term.

2023/02/02 | The Interpreter

Indonesia Gets the Ball Rolling On Domestic Worker Rights

Indonesian President Joko Widodo has endorsed the Domestic Worker Protection Bill, showing moral support for Indonesians who were employed overseas as domestic workers and sending a strong message to migrant-receiving countries like Malaysia and Taiwan to protect the rights of these workers.

2023/01/10 | The Interpreter

The Korean Peninsula: Why 2023 Will Not Be Like 2017

With Pyongyang provoking with purpose, the temperament of the White House will determine whether there will be a a repeat of the 2017 days of “fire and fury.”

2022/12/14 | The Interpreter

A Step-up for China’s Involvement in the Middle East

Beijing will soon supplant Washington as a dominant security partner ­– and the Arab world sees a chance for leverage.

2022/12/01 | The Interpreter

Anwar’s Victory Not the Only Malaysian Shockwave

A dramatic rise in the Islamist vote in the Muslim-majority country is the biggest outcome of the election.

2022/11/24 | The Interpreter

Worth a Thousand Words: What Kim Jong‑Un’s Daughter Photo Tells

The appearance of Kim’s daughter at an ICBM launch underscores how the regime sees its nuclear weapons program as a fixture and that the North Korean leadership is willing and prepared to continue on this path.

2022/11/10 | The Interpreter

Countdown to Asia’s Summit Season

Conflict in Myanmar and Ukraine against a backdrop of U.S.‑China tension – a crowded agenda will unfold in coming weeks.

2022/10/27 | The Interpreter

Even Now, Standing Supreme, Xi Has Limits to His Power

The very loyalists that have facilitated Xi Jinping’s rise could yet provide a constraint to his ambition.

2022/10/17 | The Interpreter

Could China Save the World?

It is difficult to imagine Xi Jinping brokering peace in Ukraine, but if China wants to be respected, this is a chance.

2022/10/11 | The Interpreter

Come What May, North Korea Perseveres

No manner of sanctions appears to dent Pyongyang’s determination to remain solitary and nuclear armed.

2022/10/05 | The Interpreter

Hot Button Issue: North Korea’s Bold New Nuclear Stance

Regional leaders would do well to focus on engagement with Pyongyang after missile launches set a dangerous precedent.

2022/09/30 | The Interpreter

Myanmar: A Desperate Junta Trying, and Failing, To Shore up Its Legitimacy

Aung San Suu Kyi’s Australian economic adviser was sentenced to three years in prison. It won’t help the Myanmar junta’s international isolation or its domestic problems.

2022/09/20 | The Interpreter

What Does Biden Mean on Taiwan?

When Washington doesn’t speak with one voice, its powers of strategic ambiguity are slowly chipped away.