In this episode of the National Security Podcast, we are joined by former Shadow Assistant Minister for Cyber Security and Defence Gai Brodtmann, Head of the ANU Strategic and Defence Studies Centre Brendan Sargeant, and Rory Medcalf, Head of the National Security College, to examine Australia's recently unveiled 2020 Defence Strategy Update and Force Structure Plan.

On this episode, Chris Farnham chats with Professor Rory Medcalf about the future of the Indo-Pacific region and Australia's place in it.

The terms ‘freedom of navigation’ and ‘international waters’ frequently crop up in regional security discussion. Unfortunately, their meaning can be problematic, especially when applied to the South China Sea, Sam Bateman writes.

This live blog has now finished. For more on Australia's bushfires, visit our In Focus section.

In the face of disaster, misinformation can move quickly, and solutions can be hard to come by. As part of our mission to bring you relevant, fact-based, policy-focused debate on crucial issues, over the coming weeks Policy Forum will cover analysis and opinion on Australia’s bushfires.

Don’t miss a beat right here. If you see any analysis and opinion you think we should cover, reach out directly to me at angus.blackman@anu.edu.au. You can also join the conversation on social media via @APPSPolicyForum on Twitter or in our Policy Forum Pod Facebook group.

In the last five years, China’s power has only grown, but a major flashpoint for potential conflict is still yet to be resolved, Kerry Brown writes.

Policy Forum has marked its fifth birthday with a fresh look, new layout, and a renewed focus. But the site’s commitment to showcasing the best analysis of the region’s policy challenges remains, Quentin Grafton and Martyn Pearce write.