The recent Defence White Paper included a surprise announcement of a new Australian-owned satellite surveillance capability. This ASPI Policy Analysis describes the potential benefits of such a system and explains how the choice of orbit could provide a better-value solution for Australia's surveillance requirements.

This Policy Analysis, authored by Rod Lyon and Andrew Davies, reviews the recently released Defence White Paper Defending Australia in the Asia Pacific Century: Force 2030. Media reporting has tended to focus on the hardware acquisition aspects of this document. And that is not surprising -- there is a lot of it. It will take...

This Policy Analysis examines the current debate over how Australia should react to the growth of Chinese power. Media reports that highlight the different views of China held by Australia’s defence planners and its intelligence agencies miss a key point: we can’t know what sort of actor China will be in 2030. So Australia needs...

This report examines the political situation in Fiji following a Presidential announcement last Friday which abolished the constitution, assumed all governing power and revoked all judicial appointments. Bergin examines international reactions to the coup and outlines options for an appropriate response by Australia. Current sanctions, including travel bans, don’t appear to be working, and rewards...

This Policy Analysis, authored by Andrew Davies, examines China's latest paper in its series of biennial Defence White Paper. While still guarded in many respects, the White Paper exhibits greater transparency than some of its predecessors, something the West has been requesting. But more transparent doesn’t automatically translate into more reassuring and Defence of China...