The authors of this paper argue that while China poses a modest security threat to the United States, it does pose a major challenge to the overall global economic and political order.

This report brings together four leading experts from Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam, to explore what role Australia and the United States could play in supporting more robust maritime security capabilities with their countries.

A safe and secure Indo-Pacific maritime domain is vital to the UK, Australia and Southeast Asian states for their national prosperity. This report recommends UK–Australia–ASEAN cooperation to elevate and further explore the cyber–maritime security nexus.

This paper examines the ongoing clash in the Philippines between government officials who favour appeasement, on the one hand, and those pushing for a policy of constrainment towards China in the South China Sea on the other – and how Australia can help tip the...

This report examines the Australian-sponsored Pacific Fusion Centre (PFC), which is due to open permanent offices in Vanuatu later this year.

Australia’s current South China Sea policies are under strain from two sides. This briefing argues that Australia should advocate for regular Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) Leaders’ Summits and inclusion of China’s unlawful maritime claims and activities in the South China Sea on the agenda.

Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing has been described as the leading maritime security threat and the Chinese distant water fishing fleet is likely to be the world’s leading perpetrator. While Beijing has taken steps to address wrongdoing in the Chinese fishing industry, it might continue...

Given the global shipping industry is responsible for transporting as much as 90% of world trade, the safety of its vessels is critical. This report identifies loss trends and highlights coronavirus, climate, security and technology-related challenges for the maritime sector.

Australia’s relationships with the countries of the Pacific islands region are many and varied. This policy brief focuses on how Australia can further develop and strengthen its relationships with Pacific island countries and with the Pacific islands region more generally.

This report examines how Pacific island countries (PICs) and Indian Ocean island states (IO island states) are managing and prioritising their maritime security challenges. These islands, which the authors refer to as the ‘Indo-Pacific island states’, face an intricate offshore tapestry, with the report suggesting...

In this paper, three of Australia’s leading strategists and defence practitioners from the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, make the case for bold, new strategic thinking and imagination in Australian defence policy.

After a decade of dedicated attention to Somali piracy in the Horn of Africa, the international community is focussing increasingly on the rising challenges of maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea. This includes Denmark. Recent Danish engagement in maritime security in the Global south...

In this Centre of Gravity paper, Christopher B. Roberts, Director of the National Asian Studies Centre at the University of Canberra and a Visiting Fellow at the Strategic & Defence Studies Centre, argues that Francis Fukuyama’s famous ‘end of history’ thesis is being challenged by...

This report argues that over the past five years, there’s been an increase in coastguard and maritime border response capabilities across much of ASEAN. The report highlights an opportunity for Australia to cooperate and collaborate with partners across the region on surveillance, maritime domain awareness...

This paper seeks to explore the significance of maritime piracy and kidnapping in the Philippines, the emergence and significance of the ASG within the tri-border area, the Philippines government response to maritime piracy and kidnapping and the future implications and opportunities for the broader Indo-Pacific...

This special report examines the potential for UMVs to expand Australia’s maritime domain awareness and make the ADF’s and Australia Border Force’s risk management strategies more efficient.

This report looks at major trafficking flows of drugs (cocaine and heroin), firearms, counterfeit products, stolen natural resources and people, as well as smuggled migrants. It also covers maritime piracy and cybercrime.