Views from Down Underer
by Institute for Indo-Pacific Affairs
Latest episode
Ep. 103: Indonesia's haze/smog; French protests; Ukraine update
Ep. 103: Indonesia's haze/smog; French protests; Ukraine update
About this podcast
Analysis, news commentary, and opinions on the international relations of the Indo-Pacific and beyond as seen from the region by people from the region. An initiative of the Institute for Indo-Pacific Affairs (www.indopac.nz) in Christchurch, New Zealand, the podcast is hosted by Professor Alex Tan of the University of Canterbury (Christchurch, New Zealand) with panelists Dr Juhn Chris Espia of the University of the Philippines Visayas, Associate Professor Nick Khoo of the University of Otago (Dunedin, New Zealand), Dr Orson Tan and Katie Mills of the Institute for Indo-Pacific Affairs.
Episodes
The newest 20 of 100 episodes
- Ep. 103: Indonesia's haze/smog; French protests; Ukraine update · 1 h 0 min · Episode 104Indonesia's forest burning is creating huge smog problems for its neighbors. What is happening and why it is a problem? Serious riots and protests in France that is destabilizing…
- Ep.102: UK PM Andy Burnham emotional speech; Man City's financial hokey-pokey; Xi-Trump meeting · 1 h 13 min · Episode 103Burnham delivered an emotional speech to party faithful. English Premier League team Manchester City was found guilty of charges on financial impropriety. Xi-Trump meeting in…
- Ep. 101: AfD wins German state election, Trump offers $5k if Republicans win midterms, and US Treasury Bonds interest rate rises · 1 h 5 min · Episode 102AfD- considered an extreme right German party- won Lander election in Saxony-Anhalt. What are the implications of this historic state election victory? Is dealignment happening…
- Ep. 100: US-Canada trade war · 1 h 6 min · Episode 101This is our 100th episode. We discussed the US-Canada trade war. What happened? What next for Canada?
- Ep. 99: NZ pre-election coalition politics, NZ Foreign Minister's unparliamentary statements, FIFA's money-grabbing scheme · 1 h 13 min · Episode 100Recent party support polling is affecting the pre-election coalition politicking. Is the stale NZ party system ready for rejuvenation with the rise of the Opportunity Party? NZ…
- Ep. 98: UK PM Starmer resigns; Australian survey on views of major powers; World Cup; China's missile testing · 1 h 5 min · Episode 99UK PM Starmer stepping off PM role in September after tumultuous last few months. Lowy Institute released a public opinion poll on how Aussies view different countries. World Cup…
- Ep 97: Social cohesion, US-China, Venice Biennale · 1 h 15 min · Episode 98NZ social cohesion and views on migration is a topic of a recent survey. State of US-China relations after Xi-Trump summit. Arts and politics meet in Venice Biennale. NZ MPs…
- Ep. 96: RNZAF P-8 in East China Sea, leaked email of NZ PM, arts and politics · 1 h 4 min · Episode 97RNZAF plane flies to East China Sea to participate in an international mission but the PRC Foreign Affairs Ministry criticised NZ for this flight. There is drama around the…
- Ep. 95: Hungarian election results and NZ's National Party woes · 1 h 7 min · Episode 96Hungarian election resulted in the end of PM Orban's 16-year reign. What lessons does it offer? Is it a glimmer of hope to reverse democratic backsliding? New Zealand's National…
- Ep. 94: US-Israel-Iran conflict (week 5 and counting); NZ-Cook Island security pact; Survey shows young Aussies dissatisfied with democracy · 1 h 18 min · Episode 95US-Israeli conflict with Iran is on its fifth week (with no end in sight) and with the global economy held hostage due to the 'closure' of the Strait of Hormuz, US president…
- Ep. 93: Continuing US-Israel conflict with Iran, closing of Strait of Hormuz · 1 h 6 min · Episode 94The US-Israeli conflict with Iran has intensified. Iran has hit back at Gulf states and Israel. Iran has also closed the Strait of Hormuz where 20% of petroleum is transported…
- Ep. 92: Carney in Australia, Iran conflict, NZ PM’s polling numbers · 1 h 0 min · Episode 93Canadian PM Mark Carney visited Australia as part of his Indo-Pacific middle powers tour. Iran conflict enters its second week, what is the end game or is there even one? NZ PM…
- Ep. 91: Iran attacked by US and Israel · 1 h 7 min · Episode 92US and Israel attacked Iran that killed Iran's top leadership. Iran has responded by expanding the conflict to neighboring states. The Strait of Hormuz is now closed and air…
- Ep. 90: Munich Security Conference, China as a green superpower, Ex-South Korean President given life sentence · 1 h 8 min · Episode 91Recent Munich Security Conference followed up on the 'rupture' speech by Canadian PM Carney, US State Secretary delivered a similar message to last year's US VP Vance's speech…
- Ep. 89: NZ-India FTA, Japan's LDP wins, AI and jobs · 1 h 6 min · Episode 90Will the NZ-India FTA see the light of day? PM Takaichi leads Japan's LDP to a big electoral victory. Singapore's Deputy PM raised concern about AI and its impact on jobs and the…
- Ep. 88: Canadian PM Carney's 2026 World Economic Forum speech · 1 h 7 min · Episode 89Canadian PM Mark Carney delivered a hard hitting speech declaring the 'rules-based international order' as ruptured and calling for middle powers of the world to unite. While…
- Ep.87: Thailand and Cambodia border conflict (again), Thai calls for new general election · 55 min · Episode 88Thai-Cambodia border conflict flares again months after a peace accord signed in the presence of US President Trump. In the midst of this conflict, Thai PM dissolves parliament…
- Ep. 86: China-Japan spat, NZ MPs sent warning letter by PRC envoy, MAGA's MTG resigning from US Congress · 1 h 1 min · Episode 87Tensions brewing between China and Japan due to PRC's response to Japanese PM's comments about 'survival-threatening situation' pertaining to conflict in the Taiwan Strait…
- Ep. 85: Learning a foreign language: opening minds, appreciating cultures, building self-confidence, creating opportunities · 54 min · Episode 86We share our experience of learning foreign languages and the importance of learning a different language. One of our students currently studying Mandarin Chinese in Taiwan…
- Ep. 84: ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur and APEC meeting in Seoul · 1 h 5 min · Episode 85ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur saw the formal admission of Timor Leste as the newest ASEAN member, the transfer of chair-ship to the Philippines and US President Trump attended the…
