#248: Seoul and the Power of Protest

South Korea has unique security challenges when compared to many of its neighbours. Like many it lives in the shadow of giants like China and Russia, but the ever-present threat of North Korea is less than 50km from its capital, Seoul. While its alliance with the United States remains important to Korea’s security and foreign policy outlook, there are many possibilities for stronger ties to allies and partners. This could present opportunities to enhance maritime security cooperation between Australia and Korea and better coordinate maritime capacity building with other states the region. How can Australia and South Korea develop an effective regional partnership? What are the opportunities and limits presented by moving the relationship forward? A La Trobe Asia / UWA Defence and Security Institute event Panel: Dr Troy Lee-Brown (Research Fellow, Defence and Security Institute, UWA) Professor Bec Strating (Director, La Trobe Asia) Afeeya Akhand (Fellow, Australian Strategic Policy Institute) Dongkeun Lee (Policy Fellow, Asia-Pacific Leadership Network) Recorded on 8th September, 2025

Taiwan sits at the heart of the Indo-Pacific, a vibrant democracy and global technology hub whose future has major implications for regional stability. Its position is complicated by the “one China” policy and growing strategic competition, making Taiwan’s international relationships more important than ever. Guest: Dr Chen Ming-chi (Deputy Minister in Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs) Recorded on 28th August, 2025.

When Hu Yaobang died in April 1989, throngs of mourners converged on the Martyrs' Monument in Tiananmen Square to pay their respects. Following Hu's 1987 ouster by party elders, Chinese propaganda officials had sought to tarnish his reputation and dim his memory, yet his death galvanized the nascent pro-democracy student movement, setting off the dramatic demonstrations that culminated in the Tiananmen massacre. Guest: Robert L. Suettinger (Author of The Conscience of the Party: Hu Yaobang, Chinas Communist Reformer) Interviewer: Professor James Leibold (Politics, La Trobe University) Recorded 16th June, 2025.

2025 has been a challenging year for international development. The abrupt dismantling of USAID by the United States’ Trump Administration, sucking $40 billion out of the aid system, as well as significant cuts in development budgets by the United Kingdom and European donors has massively reduced aid funding available. This is having implications for multilateral organisations like the United Nations and World Health Organisation, as well as non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and – of course – the people and communities that they support. How can multilateral organisations and NGOs reflect on the challenge and future directions? How can international development adapt and remain relevant in Asia and the Pacific? How can the process be decolonised to transform ways of working to support locally driven change? Panel: Munkhtuya (Tuya) Altangerel (Resident Representative, UNDP Pacific) Matthew Maury (CEO, Australian Council for International Development) (ACFID) Jope Tarai (PhD Scholar, ANU) Dr Lisa Denney (Director, Centre for Human Security and Social Change, La Trobe University) Ambika Vishwanath (Principal Research Fellow, La Trobe Asia) (Chair) This event was a collaboration between the Centre for Human Security and Social Change and La Trobe Asia. Recorded on 14th August, 2025.

The United States has undergone profound changes in President Donald Trump’s second term, and these are affecting the world. America appears to be rejecting the very international system it helped create, with destabilising tariffs ushering in a new era of economic nationalism that threatens to reshape the Asian security landscape. With multiple crises demanding attention in the Middle East and an ongoing war in Ukraine, we still do not know what Trump's Asia security policy looks like, creating uncertainty for allies and partners navigating an increasingly complex geopolitical environment. Join La Trobe Asia for a special event as we mark the first six months of President Trump’s second term, with insights into the impact of tariffs around Asia, how alliances could shift, and the implications for both Australia and the world. Panel: Professor Nick Bisley (Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, La Trobe University) Dr Lupita Wijaya (Research Fellow, La Trobe Asia) Ambika Vishwanath (Principal Research Fellow, La Trobe Asia) Dan Flitton (Managing Editor, The Interpreter) Professor Bec Strating (Director, La Trobe Asia)(Chair) Recorded 1st August, 2025.

The past year has been eventful for South Korea. They've faced security dilemmas, tensions with with North Korea, an impeachment, and an important election - all events and issues that have made headlines around the world. But if this is the view from outside of the country, what does it look like on the streets of Seoul? Guest: Sangmi Jeong (Research Professor, Korea National Diplomatic Academy). Recorded 2nd May, 2025.

The 18 countries and territories across the Pacific are some of the most vulnerable to growing risks emerging from climate changes, especially the small island states. Despite contributing less than 0.03% to global greenhouse gas emissions, the islands face devastating consequences, from sea level rise and loss of territory to unpredictable weather patterns to growing food and water insecurity. India-Australia’s bilateral ties are at their strongest, presenting an opportune moment for more active collaboration to address food insecurity as an immediate concern and strengthen climate resilience in the Pacific Island region. Panel: Ambika Vishwanath (Principal Research Fellow, La Trobe Asia) Sunaina Kumar (Senior Fellow, Observer Research Foundation) Michael Copage (Head of Climate and Security Policy Centre, Australian Strategic Policy Institute) Dr Ruth Gamble (Deputy Director, La Trobe Asia) Professor Bec Starting (Director, La Trobe Asia) Professor Coral Warr (Pro-Vice Chancellor, Graduate and Global Research) This event was held on 23rd July, 2025.

Many happy returns to the Dalai Lama who has just turned 90, but the reality that many are facing is that there may soon be a dispute over succession. The Dalai Lama’s supporters will choose their own reincarnated leader, but the Chinese government has long made it clear that the successor will come from China. Guest: Assoc. Professor Ruth Gamble (Deputy Director, La Trobe Asia) Recorded on 8th July, 2025.

South Korea faces a number of security challenges, living in the shadow of states such as China and Russia, and with its capital Seoul around 50km from the border it shares with North Korea. In times of contestation and with a new government in place it has the chance to reexamine its priorities and contribution to security in the Asia Pacific. Guest: Dongkeun Lee (Policy Fellow, Asia-Pacific Leadership Network) Recorded on 27th April, 2025.

The Australian government has released a new roadmap aiming to bolster critical minerals co-operation between Australia and India. Crucial to the economy and productivity, the mineral trade, the plan aims to drive research and trade in both countries, but can the plan also address resource security and climate concerns? Guests: Ambika Vishwanath (DFAT Maitri Principal Research Fellow, La Trobe Asia) Titiksha Vashist (Co-founder and Lead Researcher, Pranava Institute) Recorded 16th April, 2025