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National Security | Defence | Maritime Security
Jennifer has a published several long form publications on national security, defence and maritime law related issues.
J Parker, Targeted Interoperability: A New Framework for Australia in South East Asia
Recognising that the term ‘interoperability’ is used loosely, this paper refocuses on a more precise definition: the ability to operate effectively together across mission sets agreed at the political level. Using the case studies of Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines, this paper proposes a framework that examines interoperability along a spectrum of ‘degrees’ – deconflicted, compatible and integrated – and across multiple ‘dimensions’, encompassing technical, procedural, human and information aspects.
J Parker, Time for A Coastguard: Maritime Threats Require a Structural Rethink, Australian Naval Institute, 25 November 2024
The maritime domain, including Australia’s maritime domain, faces unprecedented challenges, as highlighted by recent reports of suspected sabotage to undersea cables off the coast of Germany. The incident raises urgent concerns for Australia, where over 99% of internet traffic relies on subsea cables – a critical vulnerability yet to be adequately addressed in the nation’s maritime security framework.
J Parker, An Evolution or a Revolution in Naval Warfare: USVs in the Black Sea, Australian Naval Review, 2024 Issue 1
Navies employing conventional surface combatants would do well to analyse the successes of the Ukrainian Black Sea campaign and work hard to develop and deploy counter-USV capabilities. The Ukrainian achievements in the Black Sea have been significant, but at this stage of the conflict, when the individual attacks are analysed, there is no evidence to suggest the end of the major surface combatants or a revolution in naval warfare. Nevertheless, an evolution is clearly underway with technology and tactics that will continue to develop apace.
J Parker, Australian Naval Capabilities in the Littoral: Past, Present and Future, Australian Naval Institute, December 2023
This paper considers the nature and challenges of historic, present and future RAN littoral operations and what that means for Australian naval capability. It also draws out key themes in the RAN’s littoral experiences.
J Parker, An Australian Maritime Strategy: Resourcing the RAN, ASPI 2023
In this report, the author examines whether the bipartisan thesis of a structural change in our strategic circumstances, as articulated in the 2023 Defence Strategic Review (DSR), also requires a structural change and an expansion of the RAN. The author argues that both are needed, through both an increased surface-combatant fleet that’s designed on the principle of a balanced fleet and a review of the RAN’s structure. Such a structural review should include consideration of bold changes, including reconsideration of a fleet auxiliary, a coastguard or forward basing of assets to support the workforce requirements of an expanded fleet.
J Parker, D Uren, R Shrimpton & R Bourke, The big squeeze: ASPI Defence budget brief 2023–2024, ASPI 2023
The strategic context for the 2023-24 defence budget is complex and extremely challenging. There’s currently a gap, and quite a significant one, between the rhetoric of the 2023 DSR and the 2023-24 defence budget (and forward estimates). How Defence and the rest of government will work together to bridge the gap will become clearer over the coming year. This publication focuses on what ASPI can usefully contribute to that process, and where the key issues lie in the defence budget.
J Parker, The Challenges Posed by the Advent of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships for International Maritime Law, Australian and New Zealand Maritime Law Journal, Vol. 35 No. 1 (2021)
Autonomous ocean-going vessels, often invoke thoughts of robotic ships ruling the waves. Although the types of autonomous or uncrewed vessels presently in operation are a far cry from a fully autonomous 100,000 tonne cargo ship, developments in maritime autonomous technologies continue apace. In order to ensure the safety and security of the world’s oceans it is crucial that international maritime law is able to adequately regulate autonomous technologies operating in the maritime domain. This paper considers the key challenges the current state of international maritime law poses for the operation of maritime autonomous vessels. It demonstrates that these challenges must be addressed in the near term to ensure this capability is adequately regulated.
J Parker, US Autonomous Corvette and International Law, Australian Naval Institute, 2021
This article examines the potential operations of this capability in peacetime, international armed conflicts and non-international armed conflict to address the question of whether international law is ready to deal with the introduction of this capability
J Parker, The Key Driver's Behind China's Naval Modernisation and their Consequences for Regional Security, Australian Naval Institute, 2013
Since the late 1990s China has undertaken a Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA) which has focused on the production of technologically advanced platforms and weaponry.1 Supported by a defence budget that has more than doubled in size over the past five2 years, the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) is undergoing an unprecedented era of naval modernisation.
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