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John Lee

John Lee

The Australian

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How Trump’s war on Iran will affect China’s Taiwan calculations

How Trump’s war on Iran will affect China’s Taiwan calculations

Regardless of what happens in the Middle East, Xi Jinping will be more uncomfortable with the state of the world – and this is good for deterrence.

24.03.2026 20

Financial Review

John Lee

Carney’s middle power delusions clash with Middle East reality

The enduring relevance of Canadian PM Mark Carney’s words and vision will be limited

03.03.2026 10

Financial Review

John Lee

Trump’s NDS treats foreign policy like a property deal

Australia is not mentioned in the National Defence Strategy. But this should not be read as a free pass to continue doing the minimum on defence.

28.01.2026 40

Financial Review

John Lee

Trump puts dictators on notice with power grab

06.01.2026 20

The Australian

John Lee

To Trump, China rivalry is all about the business of winning

31.10.2025 10

The Australian

John Lee

PM’s rare earth rescue plan won’t save him from Trump’s demands

Australia’s critical minerals idea will be liked. But it might not be big enough or happening fast enough to bypass other disagreements.

17.10.2025 9

Financial Review

John Lee

Trump is a change agent Albanese can’t ignore

Other foreign governments recognise that America and the world is changing and are altering their behaviour while Australia remains flat-footed.

26.09.2025 10

Financial Review

John Lee

Trump isn’t the troublemaker, PM – that’s China’s Xi Jinping

18.07.2025 10

The Australian

John Lee

What Trump’s Iran and NATO show means for Australia

The US president gives more to allies that do more, spend more, and take more risks. Passivity is the danger, and free riding will be ruthlessly...

27.06.2025 10

Financial Review

John Lee

Pentagon raises the ante for Albanese on China

13.06.2025 10

The Australian

John Lee

No, Ambassador Xiao, China is not a champion of free trade

It is not Trump’s tariffs but Chinese economic policies and practices over many decades that are the greater challenge to economic globalisation as...

10.04.2025 10

Financial Review

John Lee

Treating Trump as economic illiterate on tariffs is the wrong strategy

Malcolm Turnbull is right that trying to negotiate an exemption from a volatile president is foolhardy. But many are assuming there is no reason to...

11.03.2025 10

Financial Review

John Lee

Forget the optics, the numbers tell Ukraine story

07.03.2025 10

The Australian

John Lee

Will Australia get a tariff exemption? A Washington insider’s take

Some White House advisers seem to want Australia to experience the pain of tariffs before there is any negotiated relief as a move to enhance...

14.02.2025 10

Financial Review

John Lee

Sorry, PM, but Dutton is more a Trump kind of guy

18.01.2025 10

The Australian

John Lee