South-east Asia is key to Australia’s long-term economic and strategic stability, nurturing those relationships is critical to mutual security and stability.
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On this episode of the Defence Connect: Insight podcast, host Steve Kuper is joined by Ben Bland, director of the Southeast Asia Program at the Lowy Institute, where the pair discuss the transformation of south-east Asia since the end of the Cold War and Australia’s place in it.
The pair cover the growing importance of the Australia-Indonesia relationship as both nations navigate the defining factor of economic and strategic security in the region: the US-China relationship.
Bland discusses his experience on the ground in Indonesia and the challenges facing Indonesia’s long-term development in the coming decades, as well as the immense opportunities available to Australia in supporting the development of Indonesia.
Finally, they talk about the response of south-east Asia to growing tensions in the South China Sea, the historic rivalries shaping the regional dynamics and the ramifications of rising tensions between mainland China and Taiwan.
Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team
Listen to previous episodes of the Defence Connect podcast:
Episode 464: PODCAST: Demystifying deterrence and its role in Australia’s future, with the National Institute for Deterrence Studies
Episode 463: SPOTLIGHT: Self-reliance in the Australian tech ecosystem, with Atturra’s Noel Derwort
Episode 462: SPOTLIGHT: Data-driven decision making in Defence estate management, with Mel Evans and John Parisella
Episode 461: CONTESTED GROUND: Long-range strike, Iran v the GOP and warfighting in the EMS
Episode 460: PODCAST: The creation of a parallel global order
Episode 459: SPOTLIGHT: T&E in an era of rapid Defence modernisation, with Graeme Bick and Dr Keith Joiner
Episode 458: CONTESTED GROUND: UK riots, Australia’s terror threat, and policing speech
Episode 457: PODCAST: Setting the AUKUS record straight, with Dr Ross Babbage
Episode 456: PODCAST: Regional business and the defence supply chain, with Mandy Walker
Episode 455: PODCAST: Afghanistan, artillery and the Australian Defence Force, with Adrian Bucci