ASPI Podcast: Policy, Guns & Money

In this episode of Policy, Guns & Money, ASPI Researcher Genevieve Feely speaks to gender equality and social inclusion expert Amy Haddad about multilateralism to mark the 75th anniversary UN, the challenges ahead and opportunities for UN reform and changes in gender equality at the UN. ASPI Senior Analyst Jake Wallis and Analyst Samantha Hoffman discuss their recent report 'Retweeting through the Great Firewall' and how they went about analysing 170,000 twitter accounts to uncover the influence operation which largely targeted Chinese speaking communities outside of mainland China. ASPI Journalist Fellow Graeme Dobell and Peter Edwards discuss the evolution of Australian intelligence agencies and why, following the establishment of the Department of Home Affairs, there should be an inquiry into the intelligence agencies similar to those conducted by Justice Robert Hope in the 1970s and 1980s. In this episode: Report: https://www.aspi.org.au/report/retweeting-through-great-firewall Genevieve Feely: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/genevieve-feely Amy Haddad: http://www.amyhaddad.org/ Jake Wallis: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/jacob-wallis Samatha Hoffman: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/samantha-hoffman Graeme Dobell: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/graeme-dobell Peter Edwards: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/dr-peter-edwards-am-faiia Register for the ASPI webinar: WPS in 2020 - Progressing implementation at a time of global uncertainty. https://app.livestorm.co/aspi/wps-in-2020-progressing-implementation-at-a-time-of-global-uncertainty Background music: "Checkmate" by Nathan Moore, via the You Tube Audio Library.

The 2020 Defence Strategic Update with Peter Jennings and Brendan Nicholson Four years on from the 2016 Defence White Paper, the Department of Defence has delivered a 2020 Defence Strategic Update. In this special episode of Policy, Guns & Money, Brendan Nicholson, Executive Editor at The Strategist discusses the update with ASPI’s Executive Director Peter Jennings. Peter Jennings: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/peter-jennings Brendan Nicholson: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/brendan-nicholson Background music: "Glitching a Ride" by The Whole Other via the You Tube Audio Library.

In this episode of Policy, Guns and Money, ASPI's Michael Shoebridge speaks to Shashank Joshi, Defence editor at The Economist about the recent India-China border tensions at Galwan Valley, the risk of further escalations, the politicisation of casualties and the impacts on the strategic relationship between India and China. Research intern Tracy Beattie speaks to Senior Analyst Malcolm Davis about the latest developments on the Korean Peninsula, including North Korea's destruction of the joint liaison office in Kaesong, the role of Kim Jong-un's sister, Kim Yo-Jong and the US response to the situation. And ICPC Program Coordinator Louisa Bochner speaks to Analyst Alex Joske about his latest report 'The party speaks for you' which looks at China's united front system of overseas influence and interference operations in politics and diaspora communities. Mentioned in this episode: Webinar: https://app.livestorm.co/aspi/unraveling-the-chinese-communist-partys-overseas-influence-united-front-work-from-australia-to-europe Report: https://www.aspi.org.au/report/party-speaks-you People in this episode: Shashank Joshi: https://twitter.com/shashj or https://mediadirectory.economist.com/people/shashank-joshi/ Michael Shoebridge: www.aspi.org.au/bio/michael-shoebridge Tracy Beattie: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/tracy-beattie Malcolm Davis: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/malcolm-davis Louisa Bochner: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/louisa-bochner Alex Joske: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/alex-joske Background music: "Measured Success" by 'Mikos Da Gawd' via the You Tube Audio Library.

In this episode of Policy, Guns & Money, Kelsey Munro speaks to James Leibold and Emile Dirks, authors of ASPI’s report; ‘Genomic surveillance – Inside China’s DNA dragnet’ about China’s national campaign of compulsory DNA data collection, the world’s largest police-run DNA database. James and Emile discuss/highlight how multinational companies and major Chinese companies are enabling the Chinese police in building this database. ASPI Executive Director Peter Jennings speaks to Clive Hamilton about his and Mareike Olhberg’s new book ‘Hidden Hand’. The book discusses the covert techniques used by the CCP for its influence and interference operations within universities, big business, think tanks and in diplomatic service. And Dr Huong Le Thu talks to Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Professor at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Political Science in Bangkok about his report: ‘Thailand’s strategic drift – Domestic determinants amidst superpower competition’. They discuss authoritarianism, military coups, the new monarch and how Thailand’s domestic preoccupations are preventing Thailand from having a more constructive role abroad. ASPI Reports in this ep: https://www.aspi.org.au/report/genomic-surveillance https://www.aspi.org.au/report/thailands-strategic-drift-domestic-determinants-amidst-superpower-competition People in this ep: Peter Jennings: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/peter-jennings Clive Hamilton: https://clivehamilton.com/ Kelsey Munro: www.aspi.org.au/bio/kelsey-munro James Leibold: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/james-leibold Emile Dirks: https://twitter.com/emiledirks Huong Le Thu: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/huong-le-thu Thitinan Pongsudhirak: https://harvard-yenching.org/scholars/thitinan-pongsudhirak Background music: "Rewired" by 'The Whole Other' via the YouTube Audio Library.

In this episode of Policy, Guns & Money, ASPI researcher Genevieve Feely speaks to Robert Baird, English Editor at Tatoli News, about recent political developments in Timor-Leste, including the challenge of a failed state budget, and the country’s Covid-19 response. Senior Analyst Kelsey Munro speaks to the Director of ASPI’s Defence, Strategy and National Security Program, Michael Shoebridge about the protests in Hong Kong and the United States, the parallels and differences between the two protests and what this means in the context of the global contest between authoritarianism and democracy. And Leanne Close, head of ASPI’s Counter-terrorism Program, speaks to Steven Casstevens, President of the International Association of the Chiefs of Police about police reform in the United States in light of the current protests and how the systemic issues can be addressed to rebuild trust and support between police and their communities. In this episode: Steven Casstevens: https://twitter.com/stevecasstevens Robert Baird: https://twitter.com/rj_baird Michael Shoebridge: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/michael-shoebridge Leanne Close: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/leanne-close Kelsey Munro: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/kelsey-munro Genevieve Feely: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/genevieve-feely Background music: "The Closest Without Going Over" by "The Whole Other" via the You Tube Audio Library.

In this week's episode of Policy, Guns and Money, two of our (moderately) grumpy strategists Drs Malcolm Davis and Marcus Hellyer bring you a wide-ranging update on maritime and space issues – they discuss Marcus’ recent report on offshore patrol vessels and improving maritime capability, the recently released DST 2030 strategic plan, SpaceX launches and more! Next, ASPI Researcher and India expert Aakriti Bachhawat speaks to Nathan Ruser, Researcher with ASPI’s International Cyber Policy Centre. They discuss the recent standoff between China and India over the line of actual control and touch on Nathan’s satellite imagery analysis of recent developments. Finally, Research Interns Alexandra Pascoe and Daria Impiombato talk about the impact of Covid-19 on the European Union and how the European Union can overcome this crisis collectively. They discuss the EU’s plan for economic recovery and how the establishment of the proposed EU Recovery Fund could strengthen the union. In this episode: Report: https://www.aspi.org.au/report/concentrated-vulnerability-distributed-lethality-offshore-patrol-vessels People: Marcus Hellyer: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/marcus-hellyer Malcolm Davis:https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/malcolm-davis Aakriti Bachhawat: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/aakriti-bachhawat Nathan Ruser: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/nathan-ruser Daria Impiombato: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/daria-impiombato Alexandra Pascoe: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/alexandra-pascoe Background music: "Glitchin' a Ride" by 'The Whole Other' via the YouTube Audio Library.

In this episode of ‘Policy, Guns and Money’, Lisa Sharland, head of ASPI’s International Program, speaks to Major General Cheryl Pearce, Force Commander of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus. 29 May is the International Day of UN Peacekeepers, and Lisa speaks to Cheryl about her experiences as Force Commander of a peacekeeping mission, the impact of Covid-19 on the mission and the importance of women in peacekeeping. Next, Leanne Close, Head of ASPI’s Counter-terrorism Program, spoke to Professor Boaz Ganor about some of the key findings from his recent ASPI report ‘Terrorism is Terrorism’, including some of his recommendations to intelligence and law enforcement agencies working in counter-terrorism. Finally, Senior Analyst Dr Huong Le Thu spoke to Penny Burtt, Group CEO of AsiaLink at the University of Melbourne about the response to Covid-19 from ASEAN nations, information-sharing in the region and ASEAN’s effectiveness in managing the Covid-19 crisis. In this episode: Report: Terrorism is Terrorism: https://www.aspi.org.au/report/terrorism-terrorism-christchurch-terror-attack-israeli-ct-perspective Lisa Sharland: www.aspi.org.au/bio/lisa-sharland Major General Cheryl Pearce: @CherylAPearce Leanne Close: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/leanne-close Prof Boaz Ganor: http://portal.idc.ac.il/faculty/en/pages/profile.aspx?username=ganor Dr Huong Le Thu: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/huong-le-thu Penny Burtt: https://asialink.unimelb.edu.au/about-us/leadership-team/pennyburtt Background music: "Lost Time" by 'Eveningland' via the YouTube Audio Library.

In this episode of Policy, Guns and Money, Peter Jennings, Executive Director of ASPI, speaks with Isaiya Kabira, Kenya's High Commissioner to Australia about the significance of Africa Day and Africa's progress since the establishment of the Organisation of African Unity in 1963. They talked about the impacts of Covid-19 in Africa and also discussed Australia's relationship with Kenya and Australia's ties to Africa more broadly. Next, Brendan Nicholson, Executive Editor of The Strategist speaks to Claire Ireland, Australian High Commissioner to Nigeria, about Australia and Nigeria's bilateral interests and the evolution of Australia's relationship with Africa. And to close, Lisa Sharland, Head of ASPI's International Program, interviewed journalist and filmmaker Santilla Chingaiipe about the African diaspora in Australia and how different communities have been affected by Covid-19. In this episode: Peter Jennings: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/peter-jennings Isaiya Kabira: https://www.kenya.asn.au/copy-of-about-kenya Brendan Nicholson: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/brendan-nicholson Claire Ireland: https://www.dfat.gov.au/about-us/our-people/homs/Pages/high-commissioner-to-nigeria Lisa Sharland: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/lisa-sharland Santilla Chingaipe: http://www.santillachingaipe.com/ Photo: James Brorson, ASPI Background music: "Unrest" by ELPHNT, via the YouTube Audio Library.

In this episode of Policy, Guns and Money Kelsey Munro, ASPI Senior Analyst, speaks to Charles Edel, Senior Fellow at the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney, about the current tensions between Australia and China and the US-China relationship in the Covid era. Then, ASPI Researcher Geneveieve Feely speaks to Nikki Marczak from the University of Queensland’s Asia Pacific Centre for The Responsibility to Protect about the impact of Covid-19 in conflict-affected areas and the risk of atrocity crimes. Finally, research interns Alexandra Pascoe, Albert Zhang and Hal Crichton-Standish talk about climate change and Covid-19 and how the crisis provides an opportunity for climate action going forward. In this episode: Kelsey Munro https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/kelsey-munro Charles Edel https://www.ussc.edu.au/people/charles-edel Geneveieve Feely https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/genevieve-feely Nikki Marczak https://polsis.uq.edu.au/profile/4244/nikki-marczak Alexandra Pascoe https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/alexandra-pascoe Albert Zhang https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/albert-zhang Hal Crichton-Standish https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/hal-crichton-standish Background music: "Ticker" by Silent Partner, via the You Tube Audio Library

The fourth and final episode of ‘Australia’s Next Steps’ examines the future of the global supply chain. Host Michael Shoebridge, Director of Defence, Strategy, and national security Program at ASPI, talks to Louise McGrath, General Manager for International Competitiveness with the Australian Industry Group, and Pieter Els, Oracle’s Director of Supply Chain Management Cloud solutions in the Japan and Asia-Pacific region. The conversation examines the impact of the pandemic and finds that the resilience of our supply chains have proven themselves throughout the crisis, while also presenting an opportunity to learn from the lessons of the past few months and build our supply chains more flexibly. Throughout the episode what is revealed is a story of strength and adaptability, not weakness. Australia’s Next Steps is brought to you by Oracle.