Bill Birtles
Indonesia
Bill Birtles is the ABC's Indonesia correspondent, based in Jakarta.
Bill was previously the East Asia correspondent, working from Taiwan and China. Since his posting in Beijing in 2015, he has covered some of the biggest stories of recent years, including the rise of Xi Jinping, the US-China trade war, the Hong Kong protests and upheaval in the Australia-China relationship.
He has reported from South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, the Philippines and from southern China right up to the North Korean border. Prior to the posting in Beijing, he was a news and current affairs journalist in Sydney and also worked for the ABC's Asia Pacific News Centre in Melbourne with a focus on China.
He has previously studied Mandarin in Beijing and worked in Chinese television, and published his book, The Truth About China, in 2021. Follow Bill on Twitter: @billbirtles
Latest by Bill Birtles
'We will know whether democracy lives or dies by the end of 2024': Why this year could change everything
Countries with a combined population of more than three and a half billion people will head to the polls in 2024 to participate in presidential, legislative and parliamentary elections. So could this be the greatest test of democracy?
With the possible rise of a nepo baby, Widodo went from anti-dynasty candidate to kingmaker
Less than a fortnight out from Indonesia's election, President Joko Widodo's son is proving to be the decisive factor driving some of the country's almost 200 million voters towards his joint ticket. Could he secure the Widodo political dynasty?
Foul-smelling sulphur and the risk of death won't stop tourists from climbing Indonesia's active volcanoes
As one of the most volcanically active regions on earth, Indonesia's mountains attract thousands of visitors each year. But the deaths of 24 hikers last month has prompted experts to renew warnings about the dangers of extreme tourism.
Australian man facing child sex abuse charges in Timor-Leste
An Australian man accused of multiple counts of child sexual abuse is the subject of an arrest warrant in Timor-Leste, after failing to show up to court last month.
The female kingmaker, the nepo baby and the bitter rivalry that may shape Indonesia for years to come
A controversial court decision makes it possible for Joko Widodo's son to run for vice-president. But is this all part of his plan to finally outmanoeuvre the woman who made him?
Siskaeee is Indonesia's best-known adult performer despite a ban on porn and risk of jail time
Jakarta's police are in the midst of a morality crackdown, raiding porn studios and targeting content creators. But adult performers say it won't do anything to stop Indonesians from accessing porn.
Two major players were missing from ASEAN, sparking questions over its relevance
Australia brought an "open for business" message to this week's gathering of South-East Asian leaders at the ASEAN summit, but questions about the future of the bloc are already stirring.
The Philippines is in a David and Goliath battle with China. But has Manila found a sneaky workaround?
In the face of a David and Goliath battle to maintain control over the islands of Kalayaan, which are still administered by Manila, in the South China Sea, the Philippines has turned to two very different forces: soldiers and holiday makers.
Melanesian leaders group decides West Papua independence body does not meet 'existing criteria' to join
Melanesian leaders reject a push from pro-independence activists in Indonesia's restive Papua region to join a key regional group, saying they could not reach consensus on the bid.
Indonesia's 'superfake' bags are cheap, handmade, and virtually indistinguishable from the real deal
The latest generation of "superfake" handbags can so closely resemble their luxury counterparts that the differences are almost imperceptible to the human eye.
'Very big transmission potential': Why the bat meat trade has an Indonesian disease expert worried
Indonesia's most infamous meat market has officially banned the sale of dog and cat, but disease experts say the thriving bat trade continues to pose a public health threat.
Penny Wong in frank talks with China over trade and human rights at ASEAN summit
The Australian foreign minister says China needs to continue to free up trade for Australian products if Anthony Albanese is to visit there later this year.
Indonesia says 'cautious' negotiations over NZ pilot kidnapped in Papua continue
Indonesian President Joko Widodo's trip to Papua's regional capital Jayapura is officially related to a festival, but it comes as his government tries to use what it calls "cautious" negotiations to free Philip Mark Mehrtens.
When a street fight video went viral, it took TikTok sleuths no time at all to find the rich kids allegedly involved
A 57-second video of a shocking assault kicked off a chain of events that ended the career of an Indonesian tax official and saw his 20-year-old son accused of beating a boy at the behest of his young girlfriend.
'I made a fool of myself': Australian arrested over drunken rampage in Indonesia freed after compo deal
An Australian man accused of going on a naked, drunken rampage in Indonesia will be released from prison after more than a month in detention.
Bali tourists to receive 'dos and don'ts' card on arrival as part of crackdown on unruly behaviour
Authorities in Bali will distribute a list of "dos and do nots" for visitors arriving at the tourist island and are warning they will cancel visas amid a wave of disrespectful tourists.
'I could never have imagined how my posting would end': Birtles reflects on eight years reporting on China
As the ABC's East Asia correspondent, Bill Birtles has covered geopolitical tensions, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and at one point made headlines himself.
Australian man accused of drunken rampage in Indonesia reaches $25k agreement with victim
An Australian man accused of going on a naked, drunken rampage in a conservative Indonesian province will avoid jail after reaching a compensation deal with his alleged victim.
Statues of a 'ruthless' dictator are all over Taiwan. His critics keep dumping them in this park
Taiwan is littered with monuments to one of its most divisive leaders. However, as efforts to remove them stall, some activists to are taking matters into their own hands.
Taiwanese police say Queenslander Alex Shorey's female friend is a suspect in rat poisoning case
Police in Taiwan say the female friend of an Australian university student is under investigation for poisoning him with a powerful rodent killer, with officers seizing evidence from her Taipei home.
Analysis
analysis:Another US-Taiwan meeting is embarrassing for Xi. But it's also a good chance to practice the 'blockade'
The image of Taiwan's leader shaking hands with Kevin McCarthy in LA will be less of an affront to Xi Jinping, but it will likely still trigger a significant response, writes Bill Birtles.
Partner of detained Melbourne woman Cheng Lei urges Dan Andrews to raise her case in China
The partner of a Melbourne woman detained in Beijing for more than two-and-a-half years says Victorian Premier Dan Andrews must raise her plight on an ice-breaking trip to China this week.
Five years after Australia's reckoning with Chinese foreign interference, Canada has its moment
The political storm bearing down on Canada over alleged Chinese government interference is similar to what unfolded in Australia five years ago, but Justin Trudeau's government looks to be responding in a different way.
Analysis
analysis:Xi brought Putin a peace plan, but he also wants Russian backing for his contest with the US
Russian leader Vladimir Putin has welcomed his most important backer to Moscow on a trip that will showcase just how serious or not Xi Jinping is about pushing for peace in Ukraine, writes Bill Birtles.
Analysis
analysis:China is turning to an unlikely place in its bid to thwart Australia's AUKUS submarine deal
China is embarking on a diplomatic mission to torpedo Australia's nuclear submarine program while ramping up its own arsenal, but the move appears to be driven by genuine fear over the real agenda behind AUKUS, writes Bill Birtles.