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Ben Westcott
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Feb 21, 2023
Nuclear submarine plan shows fragility of nascent China-Australia reset
Ties between Australia and China have improved quickly since Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese took power last year, but Canberra’s plans for a new submarine may test that goodwill.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Feb 6, 2023
China’s power in Asia diminished by 'zero-COVID,' study shows
The Sydney-based Lowy Institute’s Asia Power Index for 2023 shows that China registered the greatest decline out of the 26 nations and territories in its report.
Japan Times
JAPAN / FOCUS
Jan 16, 2023
Japan looks beyond U.S. alliance for help to deter China military
Yet Japan's deepening unease about the dangers in its neighborhood has prompted a fresh push to build a bulwark of other partnerships.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Sep 10, 2022
Australia's next climate struggle is how fast to cut emissions
Trying to balance competing climate interests is Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who won power with a pledge to end the country's 'climate wars.'
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Jun 2, 2022
Australia’s history-making top diplomat faces down rising China
Soon after being sworn in, Penny Wong rushed to Fiji to counter a rare trip to nearby Pacific island countries by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / FOCUS
May 22, 2022
How Anthony Albanese went from public housing kid to Australia’s new PM
One of the country's first prime ministers in decades with a working-class upbringing, Albanese ends nine years of conservative rule.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
May 18, 2022
Fight with China risks backfiring on Australia's Morrison at the polls
Areas where Chinese Australians make up more than 10% of the voters could help decide who is the next prime minister.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
May 11, 2022
A coal mining hub could decide Australia’s future
At stake is the policy of a nation that is a potential renewable-energy superpower but still gets 70% of its electricity and about a quarter of its exports from fossil fuels.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Apr 25, 2022
Chinese naval base in Solomon Islands would be ‘red line,’ Australian PM says
Scott Morrison has been accused of not moving quickly enough to avoid a security agreement between Honiara and Beijing.
Japan Times
WORLD
Apr 13, 2022
U.S. and Australia pressure Solomon Islands on China military pact
'We have asked Solomon Islands respectfully to consider not signing the agreement and to consult the Pacific family,' said Australian Minister for the Pacific Zed Seselja.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Apr 11, 2022
China is just one of the headaches facing Australia’s next prime minister
The center-right Liberal National coalition government is campaigning for a fourth term in office after grappling with a pandemic and a slew of climate change-related disasters.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Mar 7, 2022
Australia to build new $7.4 billion base for nuclear submarines
The move, to be announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison, will be the first construction of a major new base in Australia since the 1990s.

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