The ASPI report, 'Smooth sailing? Australia, New Zealand and the United States partnering in–and with–the Pacific islands', looks at the challenges facing 🇦🇺 and 🇳🇿 and how both countries, along with 🇺🇸, can work better with the Pacific and each other. 1/ 5 🧵 Report authors @AnnaPowles and @JoanneEWallis make several recommendations to enhance our partnerships, including through the creation of an ASEAN-style forum for Pacific island nations to discuss security and manage geopolitical challenges. 2/5

Today Ukraine marks its 31st year of independence and 6 months since Russia’s invasion.

We asked our experts & @AmbVasyl about recent developments in the conflict, the future of Western support for 🇺🇦 & long-term implications of the war

Read their thoughts in the 🧵 below ⬇️ .@bec_shrimpton says ‘this conflict has challenged key, long-held assumptions about the nature of conflict and its most important actors. The private sector and private citizens have demonstrated power, influence and capability in ways not seen before.’

ICYMI 📢

@ASPI_ICPC has launched a new multimedia project which uses open-source datasets & 3D satellite imagery to examine the developments along the India-China border

Learn more about 'A 3D deep dive into the India–China border' here 🧵 ⬇️
bit.ly/2W0hm6W
/1 Phase 1 of the project explores one of the Indo-Pacific’s defining territorial disputes - border tensions in the Doklam region. China's military activities on the contested border have been a key driver behind the shift in India's public & government view of 🇮🇳-🇨🇳 relations
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Anastasia Kapetas leads the Session 3 discussion on 'The United States in the Indo-Pacific and in the grey zone' at #ASPIConference2021 with panellists @lgflake, @lesleyseebeck & @NewshamGrant

Follow the thread to tune in! ‘Australia has a very important role to play in shaping US views, perception, and understanding of grey zone activities in this region, and the region writ large... When it comes to the grey zone, Australia is at the forefront... the US is much less exposed' @lgflake

Session 2 of #ASPIConference2021 is looking at industry & innovation - @Marcus_ASPI is joined by First Assistant Secretary Dr Peter Sawczak, @CDS_Australia & Kate Louis from the Australian Industry Group to analyse the progress of the DSU's sovereign industrial investment Dr Peter Sawczak outlines some of the key challenges outlined in the Defence Strategic Update; 'Australia is facing the prospect of reduced strategic warning time, vulnerabilities in supply chains and greater competition in defence industry development' #ASPIConference2021

Day 2 of our #ASPIConference2021 opens with Dr Beatrice Gorawantschy @KASonline leading a discussion on the perspectives of 🇦🇺's friends & partners on security in the Indo-Pacific region. Joining the panel is @BSantipitaks, @MGlauser5 & @annettecanberra

Follow the thread ⬇️ .@BSantipitaks comments on the central role of ASEAN in the regional architecture.

She highlights the facilitation of positive engagement, the ability to constructively engage major powers & support for the rules-based order

We are live at the #ASPIConference2021 dinner, as @Brendan_ASPI is joined by @zdaniel, @Kieran_Gilbert, @AndrewBGreene & @camstewarttheoz for a journalist-based discussion on politics & defence during an election year

Stay tuned for the highlights In @Brendan_ASPI's opening remarks for this session, he notes that 'given the recent unpredictable turmoil in Washington D.C., it would be irresponsible of Australia not to comment on the recent state of affairs of our ally' #ASPIConference2021

ASPI's @Dr_M_Davis is joined by @YamagamiShingo, U.S. Embassy Charge d'Affaires Mike Goldman, Deputy High Commissioner of India Mr P.S. Karthigeyan & Hugh Jeffrey @DeptDefence to discuss the role of the Quad at #ASPIConference2021 In our final session for Day 1 of #ASPIConference2021, representatives from 🇦🇺, 🇯🇵, 🇺🇸 & 🇮🇳 participated in a discussion on how the Quad can be strengthened to contribute to security & stability in the Indo-Pacific

.@DaniellesCave is joined by @smh & @theage's Peter Hartcher & @He_Shumei for a discussion on China's domestic & foreign policy and Australia-China relations

Follow this thread from the #ASPIConference2021 🧵 ‘Xi is the first President of China to grow up during the cultural revolution, which describes the kind of leader that he is’ - Peter Hartcher describes Xi’s harsh formative years in rural exile, and his eventual decision to join the Chinese Communist Party #ASPIConference2021

Session 5 of #ASPIConference2021 has started!

'Military capability: Choices and Dilemmas' features @HLCAusArmy, Air Commodore Philip Gordon, Rear Admiral Peter Quinn & @Marcus_ASPI. The panel will explore the strategic challenges & decisions required by the ADF Rear Admiral Peter Quinn notes that that the navy is ‘15,499 larger than we have been for 15 years.' The Navy is on track to be a force that we need to build our future fleet

Peter Jennings is joined by @PeterDutton_MP for an in-conversation during Session 4 of our #ASPIConference2021 to discuss Australia's future positioning on a global scale, & how the ADF can better shape our responses to a rapidly changing environment @PeterDutton_MP: ‘The consequence of military conflict is less remote than in the past, and Australia must be prepared for any contingency, and ensure the ADF is well trained and well-equipped... What we can do as a nation is be prepared for what is on and below the horizon.

.@ThalesAustralia's CEO Chris Jenkins is joined by VCDF Vice Admiral David Johnston & Associate Secretary of Defence Katherine Jones to discuss Australia's military capability landscape in Session 3 of #ASPIConference2021

Follow the session ⬇️ Associate Secretary of Defence Katherine Jones says Washington shouldn’t be the only one responding to the increasing threat in the international arena. Australia should continue to engage in and shape the strategic environment

In Session 2, @ASPI_ICPC's @FergusHanson is joined by @BOConnorMP for a discussion on some of Australia's key defence priorities & national security concerns

Read this thread for more ⬇️ #ASPIConference2021 Expressing his concern at a lack of strategic thinking by the Morrison government, @BOConnorMP questions whether the government is ensuring that 🇦🇺 have sufficient defence capability to defend the nation

Session 1 of #ASPIConference2021 will look at the 'Changing strategic environment' with former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for China Chad Sbragia, @KoriSchake, Peter Jennings & @michael_ASPI

Follow this thread ⬇️ Chad Sbragia says that the strategic competition between 🇺🇸 & 🇨🇳 is forcing the regional leaders in the Indo-Pacific to make a choice between Beijing & Washington #ASPIConference2021

To open the #ASPIConference2021, we are delighted to have Dr Brendan Nelson, AO, President of @BoeingAustralia join ASPI's Peter Jennings for a conversation on Australia’s strategic outlook and military capability

Follow the thread for key comments ⬇️ Reflecting on the uncertain outlook of the Quad in its early years to the Quad of today, Brendan Nelson AO @BoeingAustralia remarks, ‘What’s happened in the last three years of the Quad, especially a leadership level meeting, is extremely significant’

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PROJECT RE-LAUNCH 📢

'Mapping China’s Tech Giants: Covid-19, supply chains & strategic competition' is a multi-year project from @ASPI_ICPC that maps the overseas expansion of key Chinese technology companies

Check out this thread for more information 🧵 : 2⃣
The project, first published in April 2019, fills a research & policy gap by building understanding about the global trajectory & impact of China’s largest companies

Check out the re-launched project with an all-new website & updated content here: bit.ly/2T9872m

Launching straight into our next session for #Warin2025 on geopolitical realities with Dr Willy Lam, @Dr_JenHunt, @le2huong, Mr Peter Varghese and @becstrating Dr Willy Lam begins by saying that to understand Beijing's ferocious hard power, it is important to understand domestic politics