Author: Xiaoming Huang, Victoria University of Wellington

There has been good debate in Wellington as to whether China’s One Belt One Road Initiative (B&RI) is relevant to New Zealand, how New Zealand can engage with it and for what purposes. Read more…

Author: John Blaxland, ANU

With a Trump presidency and China’s assertiveness adding to regional uncertainty, Australia along with its neighbours would be wise to look at new ways to sweeten regional ties, while mindful of the past. Read more…

Author: Victor Ferguson, ANU

Governments across the Asia Pacific have been searching for a path forward since President Donald Trump signed an executive order withdrawing the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Australia is leading the effort to salvage the agreement, holding high-level discussions across the course of the past fortnight with Canada, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Malaysia and Singapore. Read more…

Author: Stephen Levine, Victoria University of Wellington

John Key’s sudden announcement on 5 December 2016 to resign as New Zealand’s Prime Minister and leader of the National Party represented further proof that Key was no career politician. This was part of his appeal — he was a New Zealander from a modest background who went overseas, made good and decided to come back home ‘to make a contribution’. Read more…

Author: Mark Fabian, ANU

Asia figures increasingly prominently in comparative research into happiness and wellbeing. First, there is the question of how and whether rapid ‘Asian miracle’ income growth rates have translated into happier societies. Second, there is the impact of collectivism, as opposed to individualism, on happiness and wellbeing. Read more…

Author: John Pang, NTU

The East Asia Summit (EAS) started with a vision of community building. With US participation and rising strategic tensions, it has instead become a regional confidence building and conflict prevention mechanism — a role that ASEAN should embrace and sharpen. Read more…

Author: Amitendu Pailit, NUS

In a move likely to inject momentum into the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) talks, India has indicated it is willing to compromise on its three-tiered tariff schedule. Read more…