ASPI Podcast: Policy, Guns & Money

Last month, Australia’s foreign and defence ministers hosted the U.S. secretaries of state and defense in Brisbane for the annual Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN). Dr John Coyne and Dr Euan Graham join the podcast for Part Two of ASPI’s AUSMIN special to discuss the meeting’s outcomes with a focus on force posture cooperation, strategic geography and the importance of Northern Australia. Guests: Dr John Coyne: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/john-coyne Dr Euan Graham: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/euan-graham Music: "Vintage Beat" by Ketsa, licensed with permission from the Independent Music Licensing Collective - imlcollective.uk

‘Hacking for Cash’ is a new ASPI podcast series exploring state sponsored campaigns of cyber espionage for commercial gain. Throughout the series we talk to experts who were close to the negotiations that led to a 2015 agreement between the United States and China to refrain from supporting and engaging in ‘hacking for cash’, as well as a G20 leaders’ commitment to stamp out cyber-enabled intellectual property (IP) theft. The series features conversations with cybersecurity experts on state-sponsored hackers and how they operate, and with industry leaders about risk and resilience. We also talk with IP experts about how the US and China protect trade secrets, and with national cybersecurity and counter-intelligence agencies about how companies and universities can protect their crown jewels. In this third episode of the series, Teesta Prakash, Analyst at ASPI, speaks to Dr Francis Gurry, former Director General at the World Intellectual Property Organisation. They discuss the role WIPO plays in IP protection, the historical context of IP theft, and how the digital transformation has changed the way IP is protected. Teesta also speaks to Nigel Cory and Elizabeth Chien-Hale, and they unpack both US and Chinese perspectives on IP protection, theft, and prosecution. Music: "Lounge It" by Maarten Schellekens, licensed with permission from the Independent Music Licensing Collective - imlcollective.uk

In this special episode of Policy, Guns and Money’s Bigger Picture series, Alex Bristow and Jennifer Parker from ASPI’s Defence, Strategy and National Security program sit down to discuss the upcoming AUSMIN meeting in Brisbane. They discuss the significance of this year’s meeting being held against the backdrop of the largest ever iteration of Exercise Talisman Sabre and explore some of the key outcomes they expect from the meeting. They also discuss the expansion of the alliance discussions to include critical and emerging technologies and climate change, as well as the role that statecraft will play in this year’s ambitious agenda. Finally, they provide insight into what topics might be discussed behind closed doors, including the need to de-escalate rising tensions around unsafe military practices in the Taiwan Strait. Stay tuned for part two of the series where we will reflect on the outcomes from the meeting and look ahead to AUSMIN 2024. Music: "Vintage Beat" by Ketsa, licensed with permission from the Independent Music Licensing Collective - imlcollective.uk

‘Hacking for Cash’ is a new ASPI podcast series exploring state sponsored campaigns of cyber espionage for commercial gain. Throughout the series we talk to experts who were close to the negotiations that led to a 2015 agreement between the United States and China to refrain from supporting and engaging in ‘hacking for cash’, as well as a G20 leaders’ commitment to stamp out cyber-enabled intellectual property (IP) theft. The series features conversations with cybersecurity experts on state-sponsored hackers and how they operate, and with industry leaders about risk and resilience. We also talk with IP experts about how the US and China protect trade secrets, and with national cybersecurity and counter-intelligence agencies about how companies and universities can protect their crown jewels. In this second episode of the series, Gatra Priyandita, Analyst at ASPI, speaks to Dustin McCormack and Callie Aboaf. Both work as cybersecurity analysts with The MITRE Corporation. MITRE is a US non-for-profit research and engineering company. They talk about the actors behind cyber-espionage campaigns, they unpack this phenomenon of APTs - the Advanced Persistent Threat actors , and how they’re targeting intellectual property and other assets of economic and commercial value. Music: "Lounge It" by Maarten Schellekens, licensed with permission from the Independent Music Licensing Collective - imlcollective.uk

In May, ASPI released ‘Smooth sailing? Australia, New Zealand and the United States partnering in–and with–the Pacific islands’. The report detailed how Australia, New Zealand and the United States could improve security partnerships and coordination in the region. This week, ASPI’s Bec Shrimpton speaks to report authors Joanne Wallis and Anna Powles. They discuss the key recommendations from the report, including setting up an ASEAN-style forum for Pacific island nations, as well as the need for Pacific priorities to direct the actions that partners undertake in the region. They also discuss how Australia, New Zealand and the United States have engaged with the Pacific in the past and explore opportunities to strengthen engagement. Recently, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace released the 'Indian Ocean Strategic Map', which provides a coherent, data-driven understanding of the players, security challenges, and other factors that shape the region. ASPI’s Baani Grewal speaks to Darshana M. Baruah, a fellow with the South Asia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. They discuss the key takeaways from the project, the importance of viewing the region as one continuous theater, and the emergence of China, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Russia as players in the region. Mentioned in this episode: https://www.aspi.org.au/report/smooth-sailing https://carnegieendowment.org/2023/06/15/mapping-indian-ocean-region-pub-89971 Music: "Rodeo Drive" by Eazy, licensed with permission from the Independent Music Licensing Collective - imlcollective.uk

‘Hacking for Cash’ is a new ASPI podcast series exploring state sponsored campaigns of cyber espionage for commercial gain. Throughout the series we talk to experts who were close to the negotiations that led to a 2015 agreement between the United States and China to refrain from supporting and engaging in ‘hacking for cash’, as well as a G20 leaders’ commitment to stamp out cyber-enabled intellectual property (IP) theft. The series features conversations with cybersecurity experts on state-sponsored hackers and how they operate, and with industry leaders about risk and resilience. We also talk with IP experts about how the US and China protect trade secrets, and with national cybersecurity and counter-intelligence agencies about how companies and universities can protect their crown jewels. In the first episode of the series, Bart Hogeveen, Head of Cyber Capacity Building at ASPI, speaks to Chris Painter, the first Coordinator for Cyber Issues at the US State Department, as well as Justin Bassi, Executive Director of ASPI and former National Security Advisor to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. They discuss the agreements that both the US and Australia reached with China to combat cyber enabled IP theft, the role of presidential and prime ministerial leadership and the challenge in ensuring that states adhere to their international commitments, in particular their promise to refrain from state sponsored malicious cyber activities. Music: "Lounge It" by Maarten Schellekens, licensed with permission from the Independent Music Licensing Collective - imlcollective.uk

This week, it’s all about the US-Australia alliance with conversations on Australia-US special operations forces cooperation and opportunities to strengthen the alliance through enhanced mutual understanding. Bec Shrimpton speaks to Chris Maier, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict in the US Department of Defense. They discuss the origin of special operations forces, the role they play in integrated deterrence and their ability to work across multiple domains. They also discuss the history of cooperation between Australian and US special operations forces and the importance of war gaming to force design. Recently, ASPI’s US Army War College Fellow, Colonel Alan Throop, released the report ‘Impactful mateship’ which focuses on strengthening the US-Australia defence relationship at a vital time as it develops in complexity and as it builds towards the ambitions of AUKUS. Jennifer Parker speaks to Alan about his fellowship at ASPI and the report’s recommendations, including more training for inbound US personnel and conducting allied-centric training. The views expressed in this interview are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, the US Department of Defense or the US Government. Mentioned in this episode: ‘Impactful mateship: Strengthening the US-Australia defence relationship through enhanced mutual understanding’: https://www.aspi.org.au/report/impactful-mateship Guests (in order of appearance): Bec Shrimpton: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/bec-shrimpton Chris Maier: https://www.defense.gov/About/Biographies/Biography/Article/2776774/christopher-p-maier/ Jennifer Parker: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/jennifer-parker Colonel Alan Throop Music: "Phychic" by Ketsa, licensed with permission from the Independent Music Licensing Collective - imlcollective.uk

This week, the Australian Government released the Critical Minerals Strategy 2023 – 2030, which has four objectives, including building sovereign capability in critical minerals processing and creating diverse, resilient and sustainable supply chains through secure international partnerships. New ASPI analysis by the Honourable Kim Beazley and Ben Halton looks at the potential of one such partnership – AUKUS – to deliver on mineral diversification and address global supply chain vulnerabilities. The report ‘AUKUS and critical minerals’ recommends critical minerals be added into AUKUS Pillar Two, and that AUKUS countries should work with friends and allies, consistent with Pillar Two’s remit not being an exclusive arrangement, to create resilient critical mineral supply chains. Distinguished Senior ASPI Fellow Kim Beazley joins Dr John Coyne on the ASPI podcast to discuss the report’s findings. Mentioned in this episode: ‘AUKUS and critical minerals: hedging Beijing’s pervasive, clever and coordinated statecraft’, new ASPI report: https://www.aspi.org.au/report/aukus-and-critical-minerals-hedging-beijings-pervasive-clever-and-coordinated-statecraft Critical Minerals Strategy 2023–2030: https://www.industry.gov.au/publications/critical-minerals-strategy-2023-2030 Guests: Dr John Coyne: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/john-coyne The Honourable Kim Beazley AC: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/honourable-kim-beazley-ac Music: "Think Different" by Scott Holmes, licensed with permission from the Independent Music Licensing Collective - imlcollective.uk

This week, ASPI’s Director of Cyber, Technology and Security Dr Alex Caples speaks to Hamish Hansford, who was recently appointed Deputy Secretary of Cyber and Infrastructure Security at the Department of Home Affairs. They discuss the links between cyber security, supply chain security and critical infrastructure, as well as the rise in ransomware attacks, including on hospitals, and lessons learned from the Colonial Pipeline attack. Alex asks Hamish about the amendments to the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act, what they mean for industry and the role that government and industry need to play in securing Australia’s critical infrastructure. Guests: Dr Alex Caples: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/alex-caples Hamish Hansford: https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/about-us/who-we-are/our-senior-staff/hamish-hansford Music: "Just wondering" by Maarten Schellekens. Via: https://www.tribeofnoise.com/

In April this year, the Australian Government released the Defence Strategic Review which set an agenda of ambitious reform to Defence’s posture and structure. ASPI’s Jen Parker speaks to the US Studies Centre’s Professor Peter Dean, who co-authored the review. They discuss defence strategy in the maritime domain and next steps following on from the DSR, including the Surface Fleet Review, uncrewed capabilities and addressing workforce challenges. Amidst questions being raised around India’s reliability as a partner for the U.S. and Australia, Baani Grewal speaks to ASPI’s new Senior Fellow Dr Arzan Tarapore about the need to reframe the debate. They discuss the range of opportunity areas in the Australia-India relationship, how Washington views Delhi's role in the Indo-Pacific, and the benefits of clearly defined policy goals in the relationship. They also consider India’s other relationships in the region, including its relationship with China, and the significance of Prime Minister Modi’s visits to Australia and Papua New Guinea. Defence Strategic Review: https://www.defence.gov.au/about/reviews-inquiries/defence-strategic-review ‘America’s Best Bet in the Indo-Pacific: How Washington and New Delhi Can Balance a Rising China’ by Dr Arzan Tarapore: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/americas-best-bet-indo-pacific Guests (in order of appearance): Jennifer Parker: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/jennifer-parker Professor Peter Dean: https://www.ussc.edu.au/experts/peter-dean Baani Grewal: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/baani-grewal Dr Arzan Tarapore: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/dr-arzan-tarapore Music: "Think Different" by Scott Holmes, licensed with permission from the Independent Music Licensing Collective - imlcollective.uk