By Richard Stone Political controversy between the two major parties in Taiwan has carried all the hallmarks of classic US-led Cold War rivalries. The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which managed to form a minority government following presidential elections last year, has recently attempted to challenge the main opposition nationalist Kuomintang (KMT).  Constitutional attempts by the DPP to deal with …

By Richard Stone The US peace initiative between Israel and Iran is to be welcomed although cannot be regarded as an example of skillful diplomacy by Washington. It is more in line with an act of desperation by the Trump administration; a changing balance of forces across the Middle East has had serious implications for traditional hegemonic and diplomatic relations. …

By Richard Stone The passing of a former senior member of the Quadrant publication has provided a glimpse of how a section of the far-right managed to hide their political associations and masquerade under a mantle of respectability in order to influence public opinion. The group aimed primarily at influencing decision-makers inside the corridors of power, academia and other related …

By Richard Stone Moves by Kiribati to negotiate a deep-sea mining deal with China, have closely followed similar moves by the Cook Islands. The moves have taken place against a backcloth of underlying trends in the global economy and a changing balance of forces, with far-reaching implications for US hegemony. The two tiny Pacific Island countries have, for example, geo-strategic …

By Binoy Kampmark February 7 saw the first AUKUS meeting held between officials of the Trump administration and their Australian servitors since the changing of the guard in the White House. In attendance was the US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and his unbearably compliant Australian counterpart Richard Marles. From all general appearances, the sense was that a change of government …

By Richard Stone The official medal to a top US spook in Canberra has provided little room for ambiguity when assessing the close working relationship between the Australian and US intelligence services. They are closely linked. Australia has, therefore, been drawn ever closer to the US through diplomatic agreements, and continues to host their sensitive military and intelligence facilities. The …

By Michael Willis The first operational outcome of the Pillar 2 AUKUS arrangement between the US, UK and Australia has just been announced. The three countries will share data from their submarine-hunting PA-8 Poseidon aircraft, manufactured by the troubled Boeing Corporation. This was announced on May 29 in an “exclusive interview” given to US online website Breaking Defense by Michael …