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PODCAST

Asia Pacific Defence Reporter

These podcasts are a way of shedding a bit more light on Defence decisions – particularly acquisitions – because the system has become secretive and taxpayers have a right to know what’s going on.But it’s even worse than that with Defence sometimes putting out information that is misleading and in some cases plain wrong.We discuss the Defence Strategic Review and debunk the claims that it is some sort of radical and positive move. No it is not. We also have a few words about the outrageous decision

government politics

All Episodes

20:05

Episode 128

Asia Pacific Defence Reporter ·

2026/02/23

This episode marks the 4th anniversary of Russia's brutal invasion of Ukraine, which shows no sign of ending. Australia is providing some help - but not nearly enough.The international environment remains chaotic - and we pose the difficult question: if Australian governments are incapable of introducing a digital passenger arrival card, what hope is there that we will ever be able to build a nuclear-powered submarine? Donald $Trump's tariff war with the world continues and Australia has now been

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20:01

Episode 127

Asia Pacific Defence Reporter ·

2026/02/09

Before we get to the Singapore air show, some more words about US isolationism and a country that seems to be fracturing. Something that Australian politicians seem to be sadly unaware of.There was pushback against the latest report from the US Congressional Research Service - a very authoritative group - that once again raised the possibility of Australia not receiving any Virginia class submarines. This was in the form of aheated response from Defence Minister Marles, that everything is perfect -

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19:43

Episode 126

Asia Pacific Defence Reporter ·

2026/02/02

For some variety we start with a few words about China's President Xi Jinping undertaking a further purge of the military leaving him in sole command. In the short term this might make an invasion of Taiwan less likely - but in the medium term the situation could be more dangerous. In the US, chaos continues on both the foreign policy and domestic fronts. A question for Australian politicians and national security figures: if US officials, including the President, lie so blatantly to their own

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20:06

Episode 125

Asia Pacific Defence Reporter ·

2026/01/27

More US-caused turmoilwith President Trump cancelling his takeover of Greenland because he has reached a concept of a framework deal with NATO but of course hasn't released any details. But he's replaced that with more threats at Canada, including using violent language, if they go ahead with a trade deal involving China. All the world can see what's happening - with the exception of the Australian government. Then Trump insulted all 1,200 non-US soldiers who died in Afghanistan as part of the ISAF

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19:49

Episode 124

Asia Pacific Defence Reporter ·

2026/01/20

Before discussing the Prime Minister's strange reluctance to call a Royal Commission into the Bondi terrorist attack we have to talk about the increasingly erratic behaviour of DonaldTrump. Threats from the US to take over Greenland are increasing, with greater tariffs on European countries now also part of the mix. This is because Trump claimed the Europeans weren't doing enough to defend the island so countries have sent small military delegations there to do some research - but the US President

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20:25

Episode 123

Asia Pacific Defence Reporter ·

2026/01/12

It's a good thing we waited a couple of weeks before commenting on the US attack on Venezuelabecause the entire thing is getting stranger by the day. It clearly wasn't about regime change and even the logic of seizing oil reserves is looking shaky. It might have been because Donald Trump felt his dancing style was being mocked by the former VenezuelanPresident. As disturbing as that is, of even more concern is the US threatening again to acquire Greenland - by force, if necessary. This is completely

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14:24

Episode 122

Asia Pacific Defence Reporter ·

2025/12/16

We start with a few thoughts on the awful terrorist attack on members of the Jewish community holding a party on Bondi Beach. But we cannot ignore other developments and have some further thoughts about the new US National Security Strategy, which explicitly attacks Europe and gives both Russia and China a leave pass. The official policy of the US is that they will now support European far-right political parties in what is obviously interference in the internal affairs of other nations. People

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18:56

Xinjiang Media Tour - Part 2

Asia Pacific Defence Reporter ·

2025/12/10

The adventure continues with a late arrival in Kashgar - also known as Kashi - and a crowded program of educational and cultural events. The city has a very long history and is a colourful mix of cultures and religions.Then it was a flight to Ili, the capital of the Kazakh autonomous prefecture which was different again from Urumqi and Kashgar. Treats included milk beer and a visit to the former governor's palace - a frequent residence for exiles from eastern parts of China.Then a return to Urumqi

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19:49

Episode 121

Asia Pacific Defence Reporter ·

2025/12/09

It's been a busy time internationally with the US releasing a shocking National Security Strategy document that throws Europe under a bus and favours improved relations with Russia. Australian politicians need to take note. But also some thoughts on the restructure of Defence so that acquisitions will be done by a separate agency. That's all well and good but themain improvements need to be cultural and attitudinal on the part of Defence managers. Keeping the same people and giving them new titles

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22:03

Xinjiang Media Tour - Part 1

Asia Pacific Defence Reporter ·

2025/12/03

APDR was invited for a media tour to China’s Xinjiang autonomous region in September and we decided that listeners will be interested in more details than have so far been reported. This podcast is part travel log, part analysis and part personal commentary about the experience. We set the scene with some thoughts about China and the first part of the visit to Urumqi, the capital city of Xinjiang. Part 2 next week will begin with arriving in Kashgar. Comments on our website

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19:22

Episode 120

Asia Pacific Defence Reporter ·

2025/12/01

We start with breaking news of a Defence restructure - though it's too early to tell if it will make a difference. Then - despite the best efforts of many - the government is refusing to close a loophole allowing Russian oil to be sold in Australia, though it is possible that a new aid package is being developed. It can't come fast enough with the US continuing to side with Russia in a plan that would end Ukraine's independence - and we go into the main motivation: greed and the chance for the Trump

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20:22

Episode 119

Asia Pacific Defence Reporter ·

2025/11/24

Once again, there have been shocking developments regarding US support for Ukraine as it fights the Russian invasion. President Trump has given Ukraine an ultimatum that amounts to a surrender or lose his support.In the so-called peace proposal, Russia does not have to make any concessions.It is now obvious that President $Trump is for sale to the highest bidder - and it's time Australian policy makers realised that. The first thing we should do is to provide more aid to Ukraine because despite

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19:08

Episode 118

Asia Pacific Defence Reporter ·

2025/11/17

We start with some more information about the major Indo-Pacific maritime conference in Sydney and the description of it by Defence Minister Richard Marles as a type of Disneyland. Unfortunately, this is emblematic of the trivialisation of Defence topics in this country and partly explains why there has never been a serious discussion about acquiring nuclear powered submarines, or many of the embarrassing details of SEA 3000.Looking internationally, the US is behaving erratically with President

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19:45

Episode 117

Asia Pacific Defence Reporter ·

2025/11/10

The Indo-Pacific Maritime Expo had quite a few submarine related news items and we look at a few of them,including about futureCombat Management Systems. Unfortunately, most journalists continue to act as government stenographers and are either unable or unwilling to ask any awkward questions about AUKUS. It's not clear why when there are many issues that still need to beunderstood. To make sure that never happens, the government and coalition have disgracefully joined forces to block a Senate

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17:51

Episode 116

Asia Pacific Defence Reporter ·

2025/11/03

It's been a big week in South Korea with the Presidents of the US and China meeting on the fringes of APEC. Another related development was the US agreeing to help South Korea develop nuclear powered submarines. The Australian reaction has been predictably snarky and ill-tempered as people to start to realise we aren't as special as we have been telling everyone we are. While it's early days, it looks like South Korea will be building new submarines for themselves, not buying second hand clunkers

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20:35

Episode 115

Asia Pacific Defence Reporter ·

2025/10/27

Before discussing Korean defence industry and the huge ADEX show in Seoul, some words about the state of the US, which seems to be in a political mess. The problem with all the positive coverage of the Donald Trump - Anthony Albanese meeting a week ago is it risks blinding people to the obvious reality that the US might not be in a position to defend anyone. We could be reaching that point much sooner than anyone anticipated - and Australians have to start thinking seriously about that prospect

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20:09

Episode 114

Asia Pacific Defence Reporter ·

2025/10/22

It's happened - the long awaited meeting between Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and President Donald Trump has occurred - and the Australian reporting of it has varied from average to woeful. It could have been much worse - but it has not altered the fundamentals of AUKUS Pillar One. If the US was serious about selling second hand Virginia class submarines to us, President $TRUMP could authorise the deal now with the transfer occurring in the 2030s - but the US won't do that. The critical minerals

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18:15

Episode 113

Asia Pacific Defence Reporter ·

2025/10/13

The big international story is the ceasefire in Gaza - and thank goodness for that. Can US President Donald Trump claim it as a personal success? Absolutely! From what we can piece together, he was somehow able to persuade Hamas to trust Israel and at the same time finally got tough with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Let's hope the peace lasts, but with Israel's current policy settings that looks unlikely. We also preview our PM's meeting with Trump scheduled for October 20 - and let's

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21:04

Episode 112

Asia Pacific Defence Reporter ·

2025/10/07

Better late than never, we start by looking at the Australia-PNG defence treaty, which has now been signed by the Prime Ministers of both countries. While generally a good thing, there are questions about how suitable it is for PNG's needs and whether it could act as a vehicle for a conflict with Indonesia. Then some words about US and Australian military cultures - and what will happen if they become completely incompatible. In the extraordinary meeting on September 30 with the entire US military

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20:07

Episode 111

Asia Pacific Defence Reporter ·

2025/09/29

This week there's a lot to talk about internationally because PM Anthony Albanese has been in the US and the UK. For the latter visit, the attitude of the Australian media has been displaying cultural cringe at its worst.Please understand that Australia does not need to "shore up" AUKUS because it's the UK begging us for our dollars. The PM now has a meeting with US President Donald Trump on October 20 and who knows how that will go because if Mr Trump's rambling, incoherent speech to the United

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