I’m a Research Fellow jointly appointed to the School of Regulation and Global Governance and the National Security College at the Australian National University, where I’m also a member of the Working Group on Geoeconomics. My research is focussed on Australia-China relations and China’s economic statecraft.

Prior to joining the ANU, I was an analyst and policy officer in the Australian Department of Defence, specialising in China’s external policy and Australia’s defence diplomacy. I was previously a researcher for Beijing-based thank-tanks and consultancies.

Below you can find a selection of my recent publications.

Journal articles, policy reports, and book chapters

“Between market and state: the evolution of Australia’s economic statecraft”, The Pacific Review, 2023. (with Victor A. Ferguson and Darren J. Lim)

“China Inc. and Indonesia’s Technology Future”, Policy Options Paper, no. 27, July 2022. (with Dirk van der Kley and Gatra Priyandita)

Localization and China’s Tech Success in Indonesia, Washington, DC: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (2022). (with Gatra Priyandita and Dirk van der Kley)

“China’s economic coercion and Australia’s resilience” in China’s Influence in Europe: Strategies Towards a Resilient and United EU, Potsdam: Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (2022).

“Taiwan and the War of Wills” in China Story Yearbook: Contradiction, Linda Jaivin, Esther Sunkyung Klein, and Sharon Strange (eds). Canberra: ANU Press (2022).

“Protecting Education Exports: Minimising the damage of China’s future economic coercion”, Policy Options Paper, no. 18, May 2021. (with Dirk van der Kley)

A Balanced Threat Assessment of China’s South China Sea Policy. Washington, DC: Cato Institute (2017).

The Fog of Foreign Policy: Why only ‘least bad’ options are available in Syria, Iraq and other global hotspots. St Leonards: The Centre for Independent Studies (2015).

Preserving Peace as China Rises II: Preparing for a Post-American Asian Order. St Leonards: The Centre for Independent Studies (2014).

Preserving Peace as China Rises I. St Leonards: The Centre for Independent Studies (2014).

“The East is Authoritarian: Why China Will Not Democratise”, Policy 30(1) (Autumn 2014).

Accountable Authoritarianism: Why China’s Democratic Deficit Will Last. St Leonards: The Centre for Independent Studies (2013).

Australia and the Asian Ascendancy: Why Upskilling is Not Necessary to Reap the Rewards. St Leonards: The Centre for Independent Studies (2013).

Australia’s Asia Literacy Non-Problem. St Leonards: The Centre for Independent Studies (2012).

Submissions and working papers

Policy initiatives and diplomatic messaging to stabilise relations with China, Working Paper, 30 November 2022.

Australian Defence Representation in Taiwan, Defence Strategic Review Submission, 30 October 2022. (with Mark Harrison)

Short articles and opinion pieces

“Beware of dangerous disinformation. Taiwan is not part of China”, The Sydney Morning Herald, 24 March 2023.

“China’s sound and fury over Aukus will mean little for ties with Australia”, The Guardian, 16 March 2023.

“Relations with China still on edge despite leaders’ meeting”, The Sydney Morning Herald, 15 November 2022.

“Why Australian MPs must dare to visit Taiwan”, The Sydney Morning Herald, 5 November 2022.

“Beijing cannot dictate Australia’s policy on Taiwan”, The Australian Financial Review, 7 September 2022.

“Indonesia needs the tech training Australia and its Quad partners can provide”, The Strategist, 29 August 2022. (with Gatra Priyandita and Dirk van der Kley)

“Why Indonesia Has Embraced Huawei”, Foreign Policy, 28 July 2022. (with Gatra Priyandita and Dirk van der Kley)

“Indonesia should put digital training on foreign deals table”, The Jakarta Post, 22 July 2022. (with Gatra Priyandita and Dirk van der Kley)

“Could climate change help thaw relations between Beijing and Canberra?”, The Sydney Morning Herald, 12 July 2022.

“China’s Efforts to Isolate and Intimidate Taiwan Are Pushing U.S. Allies Closer”, Georgetown Journal of International Affairs, 5 July 2022.

“Is ‘Fortress Australia’ inherently insecure?”, Development Intelligence Lab, 16 June 2022.

“Don’t believe the alarmist soundbites on the China-Solomons security deal”, The Sydney Morning Herald, 9 May 2022.

“Australia’s defence policy in the grey zone”, 9DASHLINE, 22 November 2021.

“Indonesia-Australia: Deeper divide lies beneath AUKUS submarine rift”, The Interpreter, 8 November 2021. (with Gatra Priyandita)

“Australia’s Answer to China’s Coercive Challenge”, RUSI Commentary, 18 August 2021.

“Clearer path to foreign research transparency”, The Australian, 12 May 2021. (with Dirk van der Kley)

“Practical policy proposals to protect Taiwan”, The Strategist, 7 April 2021.

“A resilience response to the PRC’s economic coercion”, Perspectives, 6 April 2021.

“Trade war forces universities to go global”, The Australian Financial Review, 28 February 2021. (with Dirk van der Kley)

“Australia’s silence on Chagos dispute doesn’t help”, Lowy Interpreter, 25 February 2021.

“How Should the Biden Administration Handle China’s Economic Pressure Campaign against Australia?”, The ASAN Forum, 15 February 2021.

Editions of Beijing to Canberra and Back

“Trade likely to follow Farrell’s flight north”, Beijing to Canberra and Back, 18 May 2023.

“China’s CPTPP pressure to mount, warming wine prospects, and ministerial meetings”, Beijing to Canberra and Back, 10 May 2023.

“Trade disputes dissipate, Canberra’s tactical caution, and leader-level meetings”, Beijing to Canberra and Back, 19 April 2023.

“All about Taiwan (CPTPP, disinformation, and ministerial visits)”, Beijing to Canberra and Back, 12 April 2023.

“Competing CPTPP bids, Canberra’s contentious China policy choices, and TikTok turbulence”, Beijing to Canberra and Back, 23 March 2023.

“Chinese mining investments in Australia and Darwin Port permutations”, Beijing to Canberra and Back, 6 March 2023.

“Trade talks, a prime ministerial visit to Beijing, and eschewing hard China policy decisions”, Beijing to Canberra and Back, 17 February 2023.

“Beijing’s backdown and the role of Canberra’s softer tone on China”, Beijing to Canberra and Back, 2 February 2023.

“Canberra (seemingly) compromises, AUSMIN on Taiwan, and thank you”, Beijing to Canberra and Back, 16 December 2022.

“The Landbridge lease, a break in the bipartisan consensus, and options to stabilise China ties”, Beijing to Canberra and Back, 1 December 2022.

“Leader-level meetings and did China just drop its expectations of Australia?”, Beijing to Canberra and Back, 17 November 2022.

“Canberra’s three key decisions, the expectations game, and economic coercion (again)”, Beijing to Canberra and Back, 4 November 2022.

“A cornucopia of Australia-China disputes, parting ways on the Pacific, and the latest trade data”, Beijing to Canberra and Back, 19 October 2022.

“Resurrecting Australia’s economic coercion concerns and complimentary China messaging”, Beijing to Canberra and Back, 7 October 2022.

“Targeted sanctions against China and a leader-level meeting”, Beijing to Canberra and Back, 23 September 2022.

“Beijing (re)embraces one-China disinformation plus aggregate leader-level meetings”, Beijing to Canberra and Back, 31 August 2022.

“Misrepresenting the one-China policy, leader-level meetings, and the impasse endures”, Beijing to Canberra and Back, 18 August 2022.

“Australia’s shifting statements on Taiwan, China’s changed tone, and coal exports”, Beijing to Canberra and Back, 4 August 2022.

“Australia’s modified messaging, the limits of diplomacy, and federalising foreign policy”, Beijing to Canberra and Back, 22 July 2022.

“Australia’s shifting language on China and the blame game over who’s changed”, Beijing to Canberra and Back, 7 July 2022.

“The limits of rapprochement, military encounters, and China in the Pacific”, Beijing to Canberra and Back, 24 June 2022.

“Diplomatic olive branches and the decisions that divide”, Beijing to Canberra and Back, 25 May 2022.

“Talking about the Pacific, World War II allusions, and the latest trade data”, Beijing to Canberra and Back, 16 May 2022.

“All about Solomon Islands-China and Australia’s threat perception”, Beijing to Canberra and Back, 28 April 2022.

“US-Australia on economic coercion, Beijing blames Canberra (again), and FDI flows”, Beijing to Canberra and Back, 14 April 2022.

“China’s military modernisation, bilateral bipartisanship, and crustacean exports”, Beijing to Canberra and Back, 31 March 2022.

“A (partial) history of high-level engagement and tactical diplomatic inducements”, Beijing to Canberra and Back, 18 March 2022.

“Diplomatic signalling, no negotiating, and export redirection (again)”, Beijing to Canberra and Back, 3 March 2022.

“Quad contra coercion, ideological battlelines, and export redirection”, Beijing to Canberra and Back, 17 February 2022.

“Expanding coercion concerns, Taiwan trending, and the temperature of bilateral relations”, Beijing to Canberra and Back, 2 February 2022.

“Friendly overtures, the G7 on economic coercion, and final edition 2021”, Beijing to Canberra and Back, 2o December 2021.

“Subnational foreign policy, Australia’s Magnitsky Act, and resuscitating plausible deniability”, Beijing to Canberra and Back, 8 December 2021.

“The US-Australian geoeconomic divide, bilateral atmospherics, and diversification”, Beijing to Canberra and Back, 1 December 2021.

“China’s Taiwan tactics, duelling preconditions, and coal exports”, Beijing to Canberra and Back, 23 November 2021.

“US military action, trade with Taiwan, and Malaysia on economic coercion”, Beijing to Canberra and Back, 17 November 2021.

“Vietnam and Australia contra economic coercion, China on France’s fury, and Xi-Ardern call”, Beijing to Canberra and Back, 10 November 2021.

“US force posture, China-Indonesia, and foreign investment”, Beijing to Canberra and Back, 3 November 2021.

“China’s Pacific push, August trade data, and ministerial patience”, Beijing to Canberra and Back, 26 October 2021.

“AUKUS (again), Olympics angst, and ’90s Wang Huning”, Beijing to Canberra and Back, 20 October 2021.

“Cross-Strait relations and Australia’s evolving Taiwan policy”, Beijing to Canberra and Back, 13 October 2021.

“Contra containment, constraining China, and trade trends”, Beijing to Canberra and Back, 7 October 2021.

“Economic statecraft, the Quad, and trans-Tasman coordination”, Beijing to Canberra and Back, 28 September 2021.

“All about AUKUS (and AUSMIN)”, Beijing to Canberra and Back, 21 September 2021.

“Calling out coercion and diplomatic manoeuvres”, Beijing to Canberra and Back, 14 September 2021.

“Australia’s growing anti-coercion coalition”, Beijing to Canberra and Back, 8 September 2021.

“Exercise MALABAR, coercive practices, and export diversification”, Beijing to Canberra and Back, 30 August 2021.

“Trade data and iron ore tremors”, Beijing to Canberra and Back, 24 August 2021.

“Coercion concerns, the Quad, and supply chain shocks”, Beijing to Canberra and Back, 16 August 2021.

“Dialogue with preconditions and sanctions diplomacy”, Beijing to Canberra and Back, 10 August 2021.

“Wine and whataboutism”, Beijing to Canberra and Back, 6 August 2021.

“Tai-Tehan talks, tu quoque, and Tokyo’s take”, Beijing to Canberra and Back, 30 July 2021.

“APEC address, trade, and the South China Sea”, Beijing to Canberra and Back, 20 July 2021.

“Coal, capital, and threats of coercion”, Beijing to Canberra and Back, 14 July 2021.

“Friends Vs enemies, Adamson on China, and FIRB approvals”, Beijing to Canberra and Back, 29 June 2021.

“The great Australian divide & the national interest”, Beijing to Canberra and Back, 25 June 2021.

“Strategic competition, the South China Sea, and the RBIO”, Beijing to Canberra and Back, 16 June 2021.

“Strategic competition, containment, and 4 June”, Beijing to Canberra and Back, 7 June 2021.

“Trade tensions, coking coal, and Taiwan”, Beijing to Canberra and Back, 31 May 2021.