Shows / Pacific Polarity
Pacific Polarity
Facilitating dialogue on the Indo-Pacific region, exploring diverse viewpoints on governance, geopolitics, and historical trends.
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Episodes
Pacific PolarityDhruva Jaishankar: India’s Re-alignment
Dhruva Jaishankar discussed India’s evolving relationships with China and the United States, its economic prospects, and its broader strategic priorities…
Pacific PolarityGabriela Bernal: The Unfinished Story of Two Koreas
Jersey Lee Welcome to this episode of Pacific Polarity. Today we’re speaking with Dr. Gabriela Bernal. She is a Korean affairs analyst based in Seoul, South…
Pacific PolarityTom Wright: Living with Two Americas
Tom Wright joins Pacific Polarity to discuss the emergence of "two Americas", the consequences of America's political volatility for its allies, and what a…
Pacific PolarityDave Sharma: Securing Australia’s National Interest in the Indo-Pacific
On the latest episode of Pacific Polarity, Jersey Lee spoke with Australian Senator Dave Sharma about Australia's role in the Indo-Pacific, its relationships…
Pacific PolarityAdam Lockyer: Demonstrating Maritime Deterrence at a New Historical Juncture
Professor Adam Lockyer joins Pacific Polarity to discuss his new book "Conventional Maritime Deterrence", arguing that deterrence at sea operates fundamentally…
Pacific PolarityJonathan Cheng: Dynasty, Doctrine, and Survival for North Korea
The Wall Street Journal’s Jonathan Cheng discusses his forthcoming book Korean Messiah and the deeper ideological foundations of North Korea. Moving beyond…
Pacific PolarityJames Zimmerman: Will the Trump-Xi Meeting Happen?
Note: This episode was recorded on March 15 Australia time (March 14 US time). On March 16 Australia time (March 15 US time), Trump threatened to delay his…
Pacific PolarityRushali Saha: India's Great Power Aspirations in a Turbulent World
Rushali Saha explores the uncertain state of U.S.–India relations following the rollback of Trump-era tariffs and the announcement of what she characterizes as…
Pacific PolarityJi Xianbai: Imbalances and Geoeconomic Statecraft in the New Era
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Pacific PolarityWilliam Reinsch: The New Trade Disorder
William Reinsch dissects Trump’s tariff strategy—framed as revenge, revenue, and reshoring—and its implications for the global trading system. He argues that…
Pacific PolarityZongyuan Zoe Liu: Capital, Consumption, and Competition in China’s Economy
Richard Gray On today’s episode of Pacific Polarity, we’re talking with Dr. Zoe Liu, who’s the is the Maurice R. Greenberg Fellow for China Studies at the…
Pacific PolarityChris Sidoti: The Myanmar Crisis at a Nadir of Human Rights
Chris Sidoti unpacks Myanmar’s war through the lenses of battlefield dynamics, China’s shifting calculations, and the enduring vulnerability of the Rohingya…
Pacific PolarityOtton Solis: Great and Small Powers Under the Donroe Doctrine
In this episode of Pacific Polarity, Costa Rican economist and former politician Otton Solís Fallas discussed the US capture of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro, the…
Pacific PolarityArnaud Bertrand: China, the NSS, and a Post-Hegemonic World
Arnaud Bertrand argues that the new US National Security Strategy signals a reluctant American acceptance of a multipolar world and a search for ways to…
Pacific PolarityShaun Chau: Australia’s COP Drama and the Road Ahead for Climate Action
Cyan Ventures' Shaun Chau discussed Australia’s failed COP bid, the global headwinds facing climate action, and what a pragmatic path forward might look like…
Pacific PolarityJames Laurenceson: The View Down Under—From Zhongnanhai
James Laurenceson of the Australia-China Relations Institute at UTS shares his thoughts on China’s economic headwinds, the US–China trade war, and the state of…
Pacific PolarityZhao Long: Beyond Spheres of Influence—China’s Alternative Vision for Asia
Zhao Long of the Shanghai Institute for International Studies shares how China sees its role in a shifting global order. Dr Zhao argues that China can break…
Pacific PolaritySheena Chestnut Greitens: China's new Export of Social Control
Sheena Chestnut Greitens discusses how China is extending its internal security model abroad, and what that means for U.S. strategy in the Indo-Pacific. She…
Pacific PolarityAndrew Goledzinowski: The Chaos Theory in Asia’s Balance of Power
Former Ambassador Andrew Goledzinowski discusses the shifting balance of power in Southeast Asia and what it means for Australia. From the risks of a potential…
Pacific PolarityNatalie Sambhi: Prabowo Between Protest and Power Politics
On this episode of Pacific Polarity, Natalie Sambhi, Executive Director of Verve Research, discussed how Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto is caught…
Pacific PolaritySyaza Shukri: Malaysia's Search for Unity at Home and Balance Abroad
Syaza Shukri, Associate Professor at the International Islamic University Malaysia, discusses how Malaysia is navigating deep-rooted ethnic politics at home…
Pacific PolaritySam Roggeveen: Thinking Past AUKUS in the Trump Era
Jersey Lee spoke with Lowy Institute’s Sam Roggeveen about Australia’s strategic future. Roggeveen, author of The Echidna Strategy, argues for a continental…
Pacific PolarityPaulo Nogueira Batista: The Limits of the IMF, World Bank — and BRICS’ Flawed Alternative
Paulo Nogueira Batista Jr., former IMF executive director and founding VP of the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB), discusses why both institutions fall short…
Pacific PolarityInside China with Will Glasgow: Politics, Press Freedom, and Australia’s Balancing Act
Will Glasgow, China correspondent for The Australian, talks about the complexities of reporting from China, the evolving state of China-Australia relations…
Pacific PolarityWilliam Yang: the Outlook from Taiwan Under Dual Coercion
International Crisis Group's William Yang discusses about Taiwan’s increasingly precarious geopolitical position as it faces mounting pressure from China and…
Pacific PolarityNguyen Khac Giang: Vietnam, so far from America, and so close to China
Dr Nguyen Khac Giang discusses how Vietnam’s domestic politics and foreign policy are shaped by intensifying US-China rivalry. He discusses Vietnam’s…
Pacific PolarityBetween Miracles and Mirages: Donald Low on Singapore's Successes and Regional Challenges
In this episode of Pacific Polarity, Donald Low elaborates on what makes the Singapore model click, as well as the lessons in governance that China and America…
Pacific PolarityKurt Tong: Why We Still Need Economic Diplomacy
In the latest episode of Pacific Polarity, Ambassador Kurt Tong offers sharp reflections on American diplomacy in Asia. He underscores growing demands on the…
Pacific PolarityEvan Feigenbaum: America's Misperception of Asian Challenges and Aspirations
What's driving dynamics across Asia? In our latest Pacific Polarity episode, Dr. Evan A. Feigenbaum of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace breaks…
Pacific PolarityKazuto Suzuki on Japan’s Economic Strategy in a Divided World
Richard Gray Welcome to today's episode of Pacific Polarity. Today we're speaking with Dr. Kazuto Suzuki, who is director of the Institute of Geoeconomics at…
Pacific PolarityRenaissance or Recalibration? Jane Hardy on the U.S.-Australia Alliance
For this episode, we spoke with Ambassador Jane Hardy, non-resident senior fellow at the United States Study Centre, University of Sydney, and served as…
Pacific PolarityMichael Green: Trump and the Pendulum of U.S. Foreign Policy
For this episode, we spoke with Professor Michael Green, who is CEO of the United States Studies Center at the University of Sydney, and served in the U.S…
Pacific PolarityGareth Evans: Buying Common Security Across the Poles of the Pacific
For this episode, we spoke with the Honourable Gareth Evans, who served as Australia’s foreign minister from 1988 to 1996. Mr. Evans is a strong advocate for…
Pacific PolarityVictor Shih: China's Economic Influence, Institutions, and Incursion with the United States
For this episode, we spoke with Victor Shih, Professor at UC San Diego’s School of Global Policy and Strategy. Dr. Shih is a leading expert on Chinese finance…
Pacific PolaritySteven Okun: U.S.-Southeast Asia Trade, Tension, and Turning-points
In this conversation with Steven Okun, we discuss the evolving relationships economic relationship between Washington and Southeast Asia. During his career in…
Pacific PolarityDialogue with Zhou Bo: China's "Grand Strategy"
What is China’s grand strategy? What are the PRC’s principles in foreign affairs, and how does it’s government structure inform matters of decision-making?…
Pacific PolarityIn Conversation with Ambassador Richard Broinowski: Australia's Place in Asia
In this episode, veteran Australian diplomat Richard Broinowski reflects on Australia’s historical discomfort with its geographic position in Asia and the…
Pacific PolarityIn Conversation with Patrick Buchan: Australia in a Turbulent Pacific
A summary of our conversation is available here. Note: Our conversation took place on the eve of Trump’s “Liberation Day.” Due to Patrick’s connectivity…
Pacific PolarityAmerica is Looking Inward; Can Europe Look East?
Europe’s status on the world stage is increasingly precarious, with an emboldened Russia, a damaged — if not decaying — trans-Atlantic relationship, and…
Pacific PolarityBridges, Barriers, and BRI: Southeast Asia’s Balancing Act
Since the end of the Vietnam Wars, Southeast Asian states have opened, prospered, and strengthened relations with each other and states abroad. But, as the…
Pacific PolarityAustralian Mateship: Facing Trump and China’s Rise
Australia is a steadfast ally of the United States, but its relationship with the U.S. is not without limits. In this first episode of Pacific Polarity…