BROADCASTS.com

b"In their final episode for 2021, Allan and Darren kick things off by discussing President Biden\\u2019s \\u201cSummit for Democracy\\u201d. Having debated the merits of democracy as a foreign policy organising principle in Episode 77, they now ask: was the actual summit a net positive, despite controversies prior to and during proceedings? It seems clear Beijing was displeased, but Allan and Darren partially disagree on whether a \\u201ccompetition of systems\\u201d is the right frame to understand these dynamics. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken rolled out the Biden administration\\u2019s much-anticipated Indo-Pacific Strategy \\u2013 but was there much there?\\nNext up, PM Scott Morrison hosted South Korea\\u2019s President Moon Jae-in, the first visit of a foreign leader to Australia since borders closed. Was this a significant visit, and was it more about geopolitics, or economics? How much scope is there for cooperation between Australia and South Korea?\\nThird, Australia does appear to be participating in a political boycott of the Beijing Olympics, but PM Morrison\\u2019s announcement of this decision was rather unorthodox. What\\u2019s going on, and can such boycotts be effective? Darren is interested in how the case of Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai is elevating public visibility of human rights issues, creating extra pressure on Beijing, and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), as the February games approach.\\nFinally, both the Olympic boycott and, prior to that, the momentous AUKUS decision were not announced to the public with speeches or formal statements. Is this a growing trend in the public articulation of Australian foreign policy? Does it matter?\\nBest wishes for the holiday season to all, we\\u2019ll be back in 2022!\\nRelevant links \\nUS Department of State, \\u201cSummit for Democracy\\u201d: https://www.state.gov/further-information-the-summit-for-democracy/#Summit\\n\\u201cJoe Biden\\u2019s Summit for Democracy is not all that democratic\\u201d, The Economist, 6 December 2021: https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2021/12/06/joe-bidens-summit-for-democracy-is-not-all-that-democratic\\nHumeyra Pamuk and Michael Martina, David Brunnstrom, \\u201cThe curious case of a map and a disappearing Taiwan minister at U.S. democracy summit\\u201d, Reuters, 13 December 2021: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/curious-case-map-disappearing-taiwan-minister-us-democracy-summit-2021-12-12/\\nScott Morrison, \\u201cVirtual address: Summit for democracy\\u201d, 11 December 2021: https://www.pm.gov.au/media/virtual-address-summit-democracy\\nJessica Brandt, tweet regarding Hamilton 2.0 dashboard data on Chinese mentions of democracy summit, 13 December 2021: https://twitter.com/jessbrandt/status/1470432173199134722\\nMareike Ohlberg and Bonnie Glaser, \\u201cWhy China Is Freaking Out Over Biden\\u2019s Democracy Summit\\u201d, Foreign Policy, 10 December 2021: https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/12/10/china-response-biden-democracy-summit/\\nNational Security Podcast, \\u201cHow the Chinese Communist Party sees China\\u2019s place in the world\\u201d, 9 December 2021: https://www.policyforum.net/national-security-podcast-how-the-chinese-communist-party-sees-chinas-place-in-the-world/\\nXi Jinping, \\u201cWhat's the fundamental reason for China's growing strength? in Governance of China: https://www.cgtn.com/how-china-works/news/2021-05-05/What-s-the-fundamental-reason-for-China-s-growing-strength--ZZS93ixp2E/share.html\\nLowy Institute Poll, \\u201cDemocracy\\u201d: https://poll.lowyinstitute.org/themes/democracy/\\nSecretary Blinken\\u2019s Remarks on a Free and Open Indo-Pacific, Fact Sheet, US Department of State, 13 December 2021: https://www.state.gov/fact-sheet-secretary-blinkens-remarks-on-a-free-and-open-indo-pacific/\\nPM Morrison and President Moon, Joint Press Conference transcript, 13 December 2021: https://www.pm.gov.au/media/press-conference-canberra-act-32\\nStephen Dziedzic, \\u201cIs South Korean President Moon Jae-in's visit more about geopolitics or commerce?\\u201d, ABC News, 14 December 2021: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-12-14/south-korea-president-moon-jae-in-visit-analysis/1"