Asia Rising

Over the past decade the city of Chengdu, capital of the Sichuan province, has emerged as the most important Tibetan city in China. Various forms of financial, political, and symbolic capital have come together, converging in Chendgu, creating a centre for social mobilisation around the production of Tibetanness. Guest: Dr Gerald Roche (Senior Research Fellow, Department of Politics and Philosophy, La Trobe University) Recorded 14 June, 2019.

The collapse of Polonnaruva marked the end of the lowland kingdoms in Sri Lanka's arid north, and the end of a distinctive and successful form of hydraulic low-density urban settlement. Although historically understood as the result of Indian invasion, recent research at Anuradhapura has suggested the very economic system that enabled these kingdoms to flourish within a marginal environment, may have facilitated their collapse. Guest: Dr Keir Strickland (Archaeology, La Trobe University) Recorded 3 June, 2019.

Nusantaria – often referred to as 'Maritime Southeast Asia' – is the world's largest archipelago and has, for centuries, been a vital cultural and trading hub. These have long been primarily the domain of the Austronesian-speaking peoples and their seafaring traditions. The surrounding waters have always been uniquely important as a corridor connecting East Asia to India, the Middle East, Europe and Africa. Guest: Philip Bowring (journalist and author) Book: Empire of the Winds: The Global Role of Asia’s Great Archipelago by Philip Bowring, published by Tauris. Recorded 7 May, 2019.

Can a grand bargain be reached between the United States and China? For the past 40 years the United States dominance of East Asia remained acknowledged and relatively uncontested, but now times have changed. China is a force to be reckoned with, and current American leadership can be seen as slightly ambivalent about challenging a change in the balance of power. Guest: Professor Nick Bisley (Head of School, Humanities and Social Sciences, La Trobe University). Book: After American Primacy Imagining the Future of Australia’s Defence, published by Melbourne University Press. Recorded 26 April, 2019.

On 17 April, Indonesians headed to the polls in one of the largest democratic elections in the world. President Joko Widodo seems assured of a second term, with a quick count announcing a win by around 9-10 percentage points. In this panel discussion, three Indonesia experts will analyse the outcome of the elections, examine what went right and what went wrong for the presidential candidates and political parties, and look at the road ahead for the elected president and Indonesia itself. Panelists: Professor Vedi Hadiz (Director and Professor of Asian Studies at the Asia Institute and an Assistant Deputy Vice-Chancellor International, University of Melbourne) Dr Dirk Tomsa (Senior lecturer, Department of Politics, Media and Philosophy, La Trobe University) Dr Jemma Purdey (Research Fellow, Australia Indonesia Centre, Monash University) Chair: Dr Euan Graham (Executive Director, La Trobe Asia) Presented at the La Trobe University City Campus on 1 May, 2019.

The India/Pakistan relationship has rarely been an easy one, with the two disagreeing on everything from territory, cricket, and who is the rightful owner of the Kohinoor diamond. At times it spills into open conflict which can easily escalate, but who benefits from such a tense relationship, and should the world be concerned? Guest: Professor Ian Hall (International Relations and Deputy Director (Research) of Griffith Asia Institute) Recorded 19 March, 2019.

Indonesians head to the polls on April 17 in one of the largest democratic elections in the world. Joko Widodo will once again face Prabowo Subianto, so how have the candidates changed in that time, and how is the election shaping up? Guest: Dr Dirk Tomsa (Senior lecturer, Department of Politics, Media and Philosophy, La Trobe University) Dr Dina Afrianty (Research Fellow, La Trobe Law School) Recorded on 9th April 2019

Almost no question is of greater significance for Australia’s future than the emergence of China as an economic and military great power. Does the rise of China pose a threat to the security of Australia? If so, a threat of what kind? Speakers: Professor Hugh White (Strategic Studies at the Australian National University) Professor Clive Hamilton (Public Ethics, Charles Sturt University) Chair: Dr Rebecca Strating (Politics, Media and Philosophy at La Trobe University) Introduced by: Professor John Dewar (Vice-Chancellor, La Trobe University) Presented in association with the Ideas and Society Program at the State Library of Victoria on 6th March, 2019.

La Trobe University's incoming Chancellor explains his views on the importance of engaging Asia, and China in particular. Australia and China enjoy a strong relationship in trade and education. Does this present any conflicts with the authoritarian nature of China’s regime, and our alliance with the United States, given the growing antagonism between Washington and Beijing? Guest: John Brumby (Chancellor of La Trobe University, former Premier of Victoria, and until recently a member of the Australian board of China’s telecommunications giant Huawei) Recorded on the 19th February 2019

Australia and India are at a key moment in their relationship. Both countries will have elections this year. India is poised to become the third largest economy in the world, and there are opportunities for both countries in broader co-operation in areas such as security and research. A report released by Australia’s Ministry for Trade, Tourism and Investment judged that no single market over the next 20 years will offer more growth opportunities for Australia than India. Despite much in common there are still cool reactions in some quarters. Resistance to investment from the Indian conglomerate, Adani Group, for the proposed Carmichael coal mine, in Queensland, is the latest episode in a history of faltering engagement. How can Australia and India develop closer ties to their mutual benefit? Panelists: Professor Ian Hall (International Relations, Griffith University) Dr Ruth Gamble (David Myers Research Fellow, La Trobe University) Mr Shabbir Wahid (Director at VFS Global Services) Moderator: Ms Ali Moo

China’s Belt and Road strategy is acknowledged to be the most ambitious geopolitical initiative of the age. Covering almost seventy countries by land and sea, It symbolises a new phase in China’s ambitions as a superpower: to remake the world economy and crown Beijing as the new centre of capitalism and globalisation. Guest: Bruno Maçães (Senior advisor at Flint Global and a senior fellow at Renmin University in China).

The global geopolitical landscape is shifting towards Asia. It can be seen in China’s bold infrastructure project reopening the historic Silk Road and in the maritime success of port cities like Shanghai, Hong Kong and Singapore. Asia is rising but so are its connections to Central Asia, Turkey and Europe. Perhaps the best word to capture the emerging global order is 'Eurasian'. At the Melbourne launch of his new book The Dawn of Eurasia, Bruno Maçães discusses the increasing strategic significance of Eurasia, the dominance of China, Russia and the EU, and how the United States is redefining its place in between. Bruno was in conversation with Dr Euan Graham, Executive Director of La Trobe Asia. His visit was supported by Adelaide Writer’s Week. It was held at the State Library of Victoria on 7th March, 2019.

A second summit between the United States and North Korea has been cut short, with Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un walking away from the table suddenly with empty hands. Is denuclearisation of North Korea realistic, and what does it mean for regional stability as a whole? Guest: Dr Euan Graham (Executive Director, La Trobe Asia)

The Kingdom of Bhutan, on the eastern edge of the Himalayas, is a country rarely visited by tourists. Entry is by application and extremely limited, assuring that only a select number of most dedicated tourists meet the criteria. Guest: Paul Strickland (Program Director and Lecturer in Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management in the La Trobe Business School).

In the Chinese region of Xinjiang, tens of thousands of ethnic Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities have been detained inside enormous extrajudicial ‘re-education camps’. China faces mounting pressure from international human rights groups, governments, and academics to end these practices, but will anything help the Uyghurs? Guests: Nury Turkel (Uyghur Human Rights Project) Associate Professor James Leibold (Politics and Philosophy, La Trobe University)

The South China Seas is a region in hot contestation, and is important to many surrounding countries in terms of territory, resources and trade routes. Who controls the South China Seas? Spoiler alert… it’s probably China. Guests: Professor Nick Bisley (Head of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, La Trobe University) Dr Rebecca Strating (Lecturer in Politics and International Relations, La Trobe University)

China and India share a 4000km long border, and it’s been a relationship that has had its tense moments. This situation is made all the more complicated by the Brahmaputra river - rivers recognise no borders, and its resources are always in high demand. Guest: Dr Ruth Gamble (David Myers Research Fellow, La Trobe University)

For most defectors the decision to leave North Korea is never an easy one, and there are major difficulties in addressing the refugee crisis. Those crossing into China risk arrest and deportation, and the safety of those left behind is often in question. Hyeonseo Lee defected from North Korea in 1997, and has since become an activist for human rights. Her memoir, The Girl with Seven Names, is a New York Times best seller. Guest: Hyeonseo Lee

When Narendra Modi and the BJP won the 2014 election in India they did so under the slogan 'Achhe din aane waale hain' - Good days are coming. With an impending election, we give Modi's progress a report card. Have good days come to India? Guest: Emeritus Professor Robin Jeffrey (Politics, La Trobe University)

In the Chinese region of Xinjiang, tens of thousands of ethnic Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities have been detained inside enormous extrajudicial ‘re-education camps’. China claims the region faces a serious threat from Islamist militants and separatists, stirring up tensions between the mostly Muslim Uyghur minority and the ethnic Han majority. After months of denial, the Chinese government now claims these camps are benign vocational training centers, but many outside observers assert that they are little more than prisons where detainees are subjected to political and cultural indoctrination without legal recourse. As more allegations come to light about the treatment of Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities, China faces mounting pressure from international human rights groups, governments, and academics to provide access to these camps and put an end to any coercive and illegal practices. Speaking on Uyghurs in China and how the world should react are: - Nury A Turkel (Uyghur Human Rights Project) -