Former US Director of National Intelligence, Admiral Dennis C. Blair examines the changing role of China in the international system and the challenge it poses for policy makers. He highlights in this Centre of Gravity paper how China's concerns about Taiwan are reducing, while its regional assertiveness and economic slowdown provide some caution. This paper...

This paper explores the potential and risks of an alliance between Japan and Australia. Japan is one of Australia's most important economic partners, a close ally of the US and might be prepared to sell Australia a highly advanced submarine fleet. Yet, for all the overlap of values, Professor White cautions that there is not...

This paper examines the principal policy issues, both military and non-military, surrounding the decisions to be made about Australia's future submarine capability. {C} The paper starts with a description of Australia's strategic outlook and its implications for our future force structure and then turns to the key defence, political and economic considerations involved. Professor Dibb...

This paper highlights the growing Defence engagement occurring within Southeast Asia and what it means for Australia. Indonesia is starting to loom large in the thinking of the Defence Department and Huxley discusses the opportunities as well as challenges for building defence ties between Australia and Indonesia. Huxley also argues for Australia to look beyond...

This paper argues that the concept of an 'Indo-Pacific' best captures the strategic environment Australia finds itself in. This concept better recognises the major economic, security and identity challenges faced by Australia. It also places Australia in a prime position to involve itself in the development of the region. Finally, Medcalf explores the surprisingly longstanding...