Pacific – Here and there

Annual Asia Power Index 2020 (Lowy Institute)

23 October 2020 Online editor Research and reports, Strategy, defence and security

The annual Asia Power Index measures resources and influence to rank the relative power of states in Asia. The 2020 edition — which covers three years of data — is the most comprehensive assessment of the changing distribution of power in Asia so far. Among other things, it aims to sharpen the debate on the geopolitical consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ocean of debt? Belt and Road and debt diplomacy in the Pacific (Lowy Institute)

27 July 2020 Online editor Foreign policy, trade and diplomacy, Research and reports

The Lowy Institute authors’ objective analysis suggests China has not been engaged in such problematic debt practices in the Pacific as to justify accusations of debt trap diplomacy, at least not to date.