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 431: PODCAST: Developing Army’s hand-to-hand combatives program, with Paul Cale
Episode 430: PODCAST: Aussie innovation supporting navies around the world, with Jeffrey Hawkins, Pivot Maritime International
Episode 429: PODCAST: Commercialisation essential to the success of space and defence industry, with Brian Lim
Episode 428: PODCAST: Firebrand topics on Ukraine, Israel, and Australian conscription, with Corporal Matthew ‘Willy’ Williams OAM
Episode 427: PODCAST: Unpacking the surface combatant review with the Honourable Kim Beazley AC
Episode 426: PODCAST: WA ready, willing and able to support defence industry opportunities – Paul Papalia CSC MLA, Minister for Defence Industry and Veterans Issues
Episode 425: PODCAST: Unpacking the independent analysis into Navy’s surface combatant fleet
Episode 424: PODCAST: Bringing together Defence, industry, and academia to drive innovation – Dr David Kershaw, DSTG
Episode 423: PODCAST: Unpacking the role and responsibilities of Parliament’s oversight committees
Episode 422: SPOTLIGHT: How cyber security is essential for the delivery of AUKUS Pillar I, with CyberCX’s Alastair MacGibbon