Michael Wesley

is professor of political science and deputy vice-chancellor International at the University of Melbourne.

By this author

News December 19, 2020

Trade war: Can the China relationship be salvaged?

As Australia takes the serious step of referring its top trading partner to the World Trade Organization, China watchers wonder whether a truce is now impossible.

Opinion August 01, 2020

The Canberra–Washington bubble

“Amid a once-in-a-century pandemic that has closed borders and deflated economies, two of Australia’s most senior cabinet ministers flew to Washington this week for talks with their American counterparts. The day they arrived, Washington, DC, recorded …”

News December 12, 2020

Part one: How the China relationship collapsed

As antagonism between Canberra and Beijing flares, tracing the history of the relationship reveals that ties began to fray long ago and tensions may get even worse.