Is Southeast Asia Australia's blind spot? — with Michael Wesley and Geoff Raby
From Big Ideas by ABC Australia
April 20, 2026 · 54 min
About this episode
The episode discusses Australia's relationship with Southeast Asia in the context of national security and foreign policy.
Australians love a holiday in Southeast Asia. But our proximity to this region also makes it key to our national security and prosperity. Yet Australia has hitched its security and foreign policy wagon to an increasingly unpredictable United States, while China asserts in dominance in our own backyard. So are we taking Southeast Asia for granted? This conversation was recorded at Readings Bookshop on 23 March 2026. Speakers Michael Wesley Professor of International Relations and Deputy Vice Chancellor, Global Culture and Engagement, University of MelbourneFormer head of the Lowy Institute, former dean of ANU's College of Asia and the PacificAuthor, Blind spot: Southeast Asia and Australia's Future (Quarterly Essay # 101) and more Geoff Raby Former Australian diplomat to China 2007 — 2011Author, Great Game On: The Contest for Central Asia and Global Supremacy and more
People in this episode
Guests: Michael Wesley, Geoff Raby
Topics covered
- national security
- foreign policy
- Southeast Asia
- Australia
- China
- United States
Keywords
- Australia
- Southeast Asia
- national security
- foreign policy
- China
- United States
- Michael Wesley
- Geoff Raby
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: University of Melbourne, Lowy Institute, ANU
Books & works: Blind spot: Southeast Asia and Australia's Future, Great Game On: The Contest for Central Asia and Global Supremacy
Places: Australia, Southeast Asia
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