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Articles by Jack Sato
Asia Power Snapshot: China, the United States, and the race for AI dominance
Key findings The United States is winning the race in artificial intelligence (AI), driven by its vast lead in computing power and the strength of its frontier models. US data centres boast nearly 40 times the processing power (or “compute”) of China’s, and US AI chips 31 times. Top US models outperform China’s best, consistent with claims of a six-to-nine-month lead, though the margin is narrowing. China dominates critical minerals and open AI models, but its overall AI reach is overstated.
Asia Power Snapshot: China, the United States, and the race for AI dominance
Key findings The United States is winning the race in artificial intelligence (AI), driven by its vast lead in computing power and the strength of its frontier models. US data centres boast nearly 40 times the processing power (or “compute”) of China’s, and US AI chips 31 times. Top US models outperform China’s best, consistent with claims of a six-to-nine-month lead, though the margin is narrowing. China dominates critical minerals and open AI models, but its overall AI reach is overstated.
Global Diplomacy Index 2024 - Key Findings
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2025 Asia Power Index Report
Subscribe to The Informer for monthly expert analysis, and to Events for advance notice of visiting world leaders and distinguished guests. Website NewslettersThe InformerEvents You may unsubscribe from Lowy Institute newsletters at any time. For information on our privacy practices and how to unsubscribe, see our Privacy Policy. Research|2025 Asia Power Index Report The 2025 Asia Power Index shows a region in flux.
Australia faces challenges
The Lowy Institute is an independent Australian think tank producing authoritative research, innovative data tools, and expert commentary on international affairs. We acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora nation, the traditional custodians of the land on which the Institute stands, and pays respects to their Elders, past and present. Copyright © 2026 Lowy Institute, 31 Bligh Street, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
What Raisina 2026 revealed about a world pulling apart
The conflict with Iran threatened to derail India’s Raisina Dialogue this year – flight disruptions from the Middle East preventing many delegates from attending. But the event, hosted by the Observer Research Foundation, still attracted high-powered attendees, having won a reputation as a place that can bring together players from opposing sides. The most prominent example was presentations from both the Israeli Foreign Minister and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister at the talks earlier this month.
Southeast Asia Influence Index - Key Findings Report
The Southeast Asia Influence Index maps the landscape of geopolitical influence in this crucial region. Building on an existing body of data-driven research by the Lowy Institute, this new project is the first comprehensive assessment of the influence of major powers in the eleven countries of Southeast Asia.
Southeast Asia’s evolving defence partnerships
Southeast Asian countries have diversified their defence partnerships amid intensifying strategic competition and regional security challenges. While the United States and China remain key security actors, countries in the region are engaging with a broader array of external partners to enhance their autonomy and military capabilities. Australia, Japan, India, and South Korea are all important defence partners for the region, offering capacity-building, training, and technology cooperation.
Timor-Leste joins the Asia Power Index
When we think of power, we typically focus on the economic strength and military might of a country. Timor-Leste, the newest addition to the Lowy Institute’s Asia Power Index, has a tiny GDP of just under US$6.5 billion at purchasing power parity, and fewer than half the armed forces personnel of Papua New Guinea. Yet the Asia Power Index provides a more comprehensive view that considers both a country’s resources and the influence it wields in Asia.
Star power: An astrologer’s take on global leadership
Righto, the silly season is here. The end of year in Australia presages bubbly work parties and a long summer break. So, for some downtime, what do we Lowy Institute data-crunchers do when not hard at work in our day jobs as the keystroke masters feeding in the stats behind the Asia Power Index, Southeast Asia and Pacific aid maps? Here’s an idea we pitched to a slightly furrowed Interpreter editor. How about we figure out the star signs of global leaders for a laugh? Astrology? What a dismal science.
Is China Replacing the US as Thailand’s Main Security Partner?
In both arms sales and joint military exercises, China has been rapidly catching up to – or even surpassing – the U.S., Thailand’s official ally. By Jack Sato and Abdul Rahman Yaacob The United States has been Thailand’s primary security partner since the end of World War II. The U.S. committed to defending Thailand against the communist threat during the Cold War through the Thanat-Rusk Agreement of 1962.
Is China Replacing the US as Thailand’s Main Security Partner? - Tribune Content Agency
The United States has been Thailand’s primary security partner since the end of World War II. The U.S. committed to defending Thailand against the communist threat during the Cold War through the Thanat-Rusk Agreement of 1962. In return for Washington’s security blanket, Bangkok sent more than 37,000 to assist the Americans in the Vietnam War from 1965 to 1972 and opened its air bases to U.S. combat aircraft conducting bombing runs across Indochina.
Commentary: Concerns over China-backed high-speed railway do not derail Indonesia’s agency
SYDNEY: The long-delayed, China-backed Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway opened to the public on Oct 2, with the journey of its first bullet train bringing to a conclusion the fraught process of building high-speed rail in Indonesia. China provided substantial financial backing for the project through its policy banks and state-owned enterprises.
Geopolitics and the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway Original
The long-delayed, China-backed Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway opened to the public on 2 October, with the journey of its first bullet train bringing to a conclusion the fraught process of building high-speed rail in Indonesia. China provided substantial financial backing for the project through its policy banks and state-owned enterprises.
The Fix: The Stans have it
We’re asking contributors to put together their own collected observations like this one – and as always, if you’ve got an idea to pitch for The Interpreter, drop a line via the contact details on the About page. When you think of the Central Asian republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? For some, it may be the Silk Road. For others, the (inaccurate) cultural stereotypes.
Enter Cambodia’s Hun Manet
Among its 133 indicators, the Lowy Institute’s Asia Power Index – an annual survey of the distribution of power in the region – tracks defence dialogues (the number of meetings held between senior defence officials) and diplomatic dialogues (meetings between foreign ministers and leaders). This data can reveal ways in which countries present themselves to the world.
Power in Asia: Six surprising facts
During a summer break, The Interpreter will feature selected articles each day from throughout the past year. Normal publishing will resume 15 January, 2024. This article first appeared on 6 February, 2023. This year’s Lowy Institute Asia Power Index – an annual measure and analysis of each country’s resources and influence in the region – uncovered a number of unexpected findings.
Lowy Institute Asia Power Index
The Asia Power Index Key Findings report contains in-depth analysis not found on the digital platform. Download now to gain insight into the changing power distribution in Asia and its geopolitical consequences.
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