Asia Rising

For most defectors the decision to leave North Korea is never an easy one, and there are major difficulties in addressing the refugee crisis. Those crossing into China risk arrest and deportation, and the safety of those left behind is often in question. Hyeonseo Lee defected from North Korea in 1997, and has since become an activist for human rights. Her memoir, The Girl with Seven Names, is a New York Times best seller. Guest: Hyeonseo Lee

When Narendra Modi and the BJP won the 2014 election in India they did so under the slogan 'Achhe din aane waale hain' - Good days are coming. With an impending election, we give Modi's progress a report card. Have good days come to India? Guest: Emeritus Professor Robin Jeffrey (Politics, La Trobe University)

In the Chinese region of Xinjiang, tens of thousands of ethnic Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities have been detained inside enormous extrajudicial ‘re-education camps’. China claims the region faces a serious threat from Islamist militants and separatists, stirring up tensions between the mostly Muslim Uyghur minority and the ethnic Han majority. After months of denial, the Chinese government now claims these camps are benign vocational training centers, but many outside observers assert that they are little more than prisons where detainees are subjected to political and cultural indoctrination without legal recourse. As more allegations come to light about the treatment of Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities, China faces mounting pressure from international human rights groups, governments, and academics to provide access to these camps and put an end to any coercive and illegal practices. Speaking on Uyghurs in China and how the world should react are: - Nury A Turkel (Uyghur Human Rights Project) -

There are 22 official languages in India, but more than 780 have been recognised. It can be a challenge to communicate across the country, and while the most common language is Hindi there’s communication of all sorts in a variety of dialects and scripts. Guest: Emeritus Professor Robin Jeffrey (Politics, La Trobe University) Dr Ian Woolford (Lecturer in Hindi, La Trobe University)

Religion and caste divides Indians in many ways - religion primarily between Hindu and Muslim, with Hindu further divided by a complex caste system which can influence how they work, how they live and even who they marry. While laws and social initiatives have tried to to counteract inequality and discrimination, it does still happen. Guest: Emeritus Professor Robin Jeffrey (Politics, La Trobe University)

With a fast-growing population and aspirations to join the throwaway prosperity of the developed world, India generates vast quantities of waste, sewerage and pollution. How does it live with and deal with the problem? Guest: Emeritus Professor Robin Jeffrey (Politics, La Trobe University) Assoc. Professor Assa Doron (College of Asia and the Pacific. Australian National University)

The Indian National Congress party in India has mostly looked to the Nehru-Gandhi family for leadership, making them powerful figures in India’s political landscape. Four members of the family have been Prime Minister of the country, but does the current leader, Rahul Gandhi, have what it takes? Guest: Emeritus Professor Robin Jeffrey (Politics, La Trobe University).

India goes to the polls in 2019, and the popular incumbent Narendra Modi is currently favoured to retain his position. With close to a billion people eligible to vote elections in India promises to be a busy time and an organisational quagmire. Guest: Emeritus Professor Robin Jeffrey (Politics, La Trobe University).

The vibrant fashion styles of Tokyo are notable for their colour and playfullness, and the shojo culture (girls) draw on anime, manga, literature, film and cosplay. The distinctive fashion movement has evolved to embrace culture and identity, and in this panel we will hear from four experts about shojo and kawaii (cute) studies. - Dr Lucy Fraser is a specialist on Japanese fairy tales and girl culture. - Dr Emerald L King is Japanese literature scholar and cosplayer. - Dr Masafumi Monden is an expert on Japanese fashion. - Megan Catherine Rose specialises in kawaii fashion communities in Tokyo. - Madman MC and cosplayer K (chair). It was co-hosted by La Trobe Asia and the Japan Foundation, Sydney. It was recorded on 1st November, 2018 at the State Library of Victoria.

In 2017 India celebrated 70 years of independence from British rule. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the country, calling for the people to set aside their differences. "India is about peace, unity and goodwill," said Modi. "We have to take the country ahead with the determination of creating a new India." Can a new India emerge from the old? How has it been shaped by its years in the British Empire? Guest: Emeritus Professor Robin Jeffrey (Politics, La Trobe University).

India will soon be unveiling the world’s tallest statue, the Statue of Unity. At 182m tall it towers over its nearest competitor by more than 50m. The statue in the Narmada district of Gujarat is of independence leader Vallabhbhai Patel. The project has been championed by India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and is not without controversy. Guest: Dr Alexander Davis (New Generation Network Postdoctoral Fellow with La Trobe University and the Australian India Institute).

The Bund, or Wai Tan in Chinese, is a waterfront strip in central Shanghai. It is within the former Shanghai International Settlement, and so all the buildings there have a grand colonial feeling, right across the river from the Pudong district, with some of the most modern and radical skyscrapers you’ll see. Guest: Associate Professor James Leibold (Department of Politics and Philosophy, La Trobe University)

Asia is at a dangerous moment. China is rising fast, North Korea may be assembling more nuclear weapons, Japan is building up its military and The United States, for so long a stabilising presence in Asia, is behaving erratically. What can the world’s major powers can do to avoid an eruption of war? Guests: Associate Professor Brendan Taylor (Strategic Studies at the Australian National University, author of ‘The Four Flashpoints: How Asia Goes to War’)

In recent months there has been intense speculation in the media and in policy forums about China’s involvement in the Pacific. In turn, this has raised questions about the Australia’s historical and continuing role in the region, as well as evolving issues around sovereignty and neo-colonialism. Is the sovereignty of Pacific nations under threat? Or is China really providing aid only in order to help those nations attain sustainable development? Should Australia be doing more to support Pacific nations and, if so, what form should this take? Speakers: The Hon. John Brumby (Former Premier of Victoria, currently President of the Australia China Business Council, and incoming Chancellor of La Trobe University). Ms Makereta Komai (Manager/Editor, Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) and author of ‘Fiji’s Foreign Policy and the New Pacific Diplomacy’ in The New Pacific Diplomacy, edited by Greg Fry and Sandra Tarte, ANU Press, 2015) Chaired by Professor Nick Bisley (Head of School of Humanities and Socia

East Asia’s security environment is changing rapidly. China’s power and confidence is rising, the US is increasingly introspective and uncertainty abounds about its power and purpose. India and Russia also clamour for influence. Regional powers are entering a period of growing rivalry and animosity, nationalism is an increasingly pervasive force, and prompted by a pervasive sense of strategic uncertainty, military spending is ramping up in many countries. As a new equilibrium has yet to be established in the security order, how can middle ranking countries like Japan and Australia manage their interests? The two countries have developed a close and cooperative security partnership since 2007. The changing environment is challenging but they can better navigate it by working together in a closely coordinated manner involving both diplomatic and security policy tools. Speakers: Professor Nick Bisley (Head of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, La Trobe University) Dr Rebecca Strating (Lecturer in

East Asia’s security environment is changing rapidly. China’s power and confidence is rising, the US is increasingly introspective and uncertainty abounds about its power and purpose.As a new equilibrium has yet to be established in the security order, how can middle ranking countries like Japan and Australia manage their interests? Guests: Professor Nick Bisley (Head of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, La Trobe University) Dr Rebecca Strating (Lecturer in Politics, La Trobe University)

Asia is at a dangerous moment. China is rising fast, and its regional ambitions are growing. Reckless North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un may be assembling more nuclear weapons, despite diplomatic efforts to eradicate his arsenal. Japan is building up its military, throwing off constitutional constraints imposed after World War II. The United States, for so long a stabilising presence in Asia, is behaving erratically: The possibility of global catastrophe looms ever closer. Geopolitical expert Brendan Taylor is Associate Professor of Strategic Studies at the Australian National University. His new book The Four Flashpoints, examines the areas of Asia most likely to erupt in sudden and violent conflict: the Korean Peninsula, the East China Sea, the South China Sea and Taiwan. He is in conversation with Professor Nick Bisley, Head of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at La Trobe University. This event is the Melbourne book launch of Brendan Taylor's The Four Flashpoints: How Asia Goes to War, publi

For decades Australia’s security and economic policy has been developed based on an established regional order coming out of World War II, but we are now in turbulent times. Strong personalities and strained tensions means a change in the balance of power in the Asian region. Guest: Gareth Evans (Former politician and cabinet minister during the Hawke and Keating governments and foreign minister from 1988 to 1996. Chancellor of the Australian National University).

Waste in India is an important and visible issue, and the country is struggling to manage and process recycling. While a reported 60% of plastics are recycled the volume of garbage is immense, and much of the industry is informal. Guest: Assoc. Professor Assa Doron (College of Asia and the Pacific. Australian National University)

For most defectors the decision to leave North Korea is never an easy one, and there are major difficulties in addressing the refugee crisis. Those crossing into China risk arrest and deportation, and the safety of those left behind is often in question. The status of these refugees is an international issue, and they face a challenge of accessing support and services once they reach safety. While many settle in South Korea there is now a global North Korean diaspora, shaping the global policy debate towards North Korea. All of this could face imminent change with evolving international relations. SPEAKERS: Hyeonseo Lee North Korean refugee, Author The Girl with Seven Names Dr Danielle Chubb Senior Lecturer in International Relations, Deakin University Dr Jay Song Senior Lecturer in Korean Studies, University of Melbourne Dr Rebecca Strating (Chair) Lecturer in Politics, La Trobe University A La Trobe Asia event in partnership with the 2018 Bendigo Writers Festival. Held at the State Library of Victor