International affairs insights at Moriah Foundation Lowy Institute Dinner
Moriah Foundation and Foundation Circle Members attended the recent Moriah Foundation Lowy Institute Dinner.
Peter Tesch, Judy Lowy, Richard McGregor and Dr Michael Fullilove
Lowy Institute Executive Director Dr Micheal Fullilove was in discussion with an esteemed panel comprising Senior Fellow for East Asia Richard McGregor and former Australian Ambassador to Moscow, Peter Tesch.
They discussed the current situations in China, Russia and Ukraine and how the United States is responding to these challenges.
In welcoming guests, Foundation President Judy Lowy reflected on the challenging economic times and thanked donors for supporting Moriah families who require assistance while also bringing exceptional opportunities to all our children.
Judy also spoke of the need to upgrade Moriah’s buildings and facilities. She said: “While it is undoubtedly our teachers, and educational leadership who are central to our children’s learning, providing improved learning environments is important and we look forward to sharing more details with you in the coming months.”
Michael Fullilove spoke about the difficult and contested period in our international history, including unchecked climate change, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the thawing of Australia’s relationship with China but noted that on the positive side, challenges around the world have restored Australia’s confidence in our own democracy.
Some of the thought-provoking insights of the panel include:
On China: Richard McGregor
China is still run by a radically opaque communist party, and talk about China’s weaknesses is overstated.
Australia’s relationship with China has stabilised in the short term, but as a close ally of the US, we are bound to come into conflict with China in lots of big and small ways in the coming years.
On Russia: Peter Tesch
Australia is on a fundamentally divergent path to Russia.
Where there is a creeping re-authorisation of the system in Russia, the era of the uncontested reign of Putin is over.
I have been really struck by how cohesive and sustained the Western collective response has been in enabling Ukraine to carry the fight to Russia. We are yet to see what will happen but if we keep supplying Ukraine, we have reason to believe they will hold their own.
On the Russia-China relationship
Strong and substantial but less than coherent. There is too much at stake for them to let it fall apart. Richard McGregor
There is no love lost or illusions but they will retain a common strategic interest in eroding US preponderance in the world. Peter Tesch
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