Australia's Relationships with Asia, Indonesia, Japan, China, and Pacific Islands

This article discusses Australia's relationships with Asia, Indonesia, Japan, China, and Pacific Islands. It covers the history, current status, and future prospects of these relationships. The article also highlights the economic, political, and cultural aspects of these relationships.

Running head: AUSTRALIA AND THE WORLD
Australia and the world
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note:

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Answer to the question number 1
Traditionally, Australia and Asia have anxious and strained relationship despite
geographical nearness. After war, this scenario has been changed and now, Australia and
Asia have been embarked on new relationship through immigration, travel, trade, security
concerns and cultural exchange. Closer political, cultural and economic development with
Asia have been started in early 1990’s through prime minister Paul Keating and since there
have been contrasting viewpoint regarding this relationship. Government undertook various
initiatives and engagement to raise awareness of Asian region including the program National
Asian Languages Study in Australian Schools (NALSAS). At that time, there also accepting
huge number of immigrants from Asian region which includes Malaysia, Hong Kong,
Mainland China, the Philippines, Vietnam, and India. However, public opinion at that time
was at contrast with the government. After that Hawke government followed the examples of
Keating government, but Howard government has unravelled many initiatives of both the
government. The relationship took a serious hit after terrorist attacks in New York, Bali and
Jakarta. In response to this, Howard government has made closer ties USA and cancelled the
NALSAS program. Although, Australian government have took the decision to renew ties
with Asia-Pacific development at 16th APEC meeting. Recently, new generation of college
educated young Australians have started interacting more with Asian generation and culture.
Recent survey suggested that 62 percent Australian have spent some time with friends from
Asian heritage. This survey also reports that at least once a year, 25 per cent of Australian
have took part in some kind of Asian activities like travelling to Asia, took part in Asian
festivities and culture. Furthermore, now a days, few number of Australians also taking
interest in learning an Asian culture or language (Pietsch & Aarons, 2012).

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Answer to the question number 2
According to the author Hugh White, Indonesia should become an economic
powerhouse by 2040 if they are able maintain the 5 percent GDP growth per year. However,
recent condition and situation in Indonesia seems to point towards other direction. Some
Australian perceived this as a good news because of less competition but the author provides
some counter arguments. The author argues that this the best time to consider Indonesia as
potential ally as Indonesia can offer Australia shielding and protection from distant threats.
The geographical location of Indonesia can also be a strategic asset to Australia as mentioned
in 1986 Dibb review where Indonesia was described as a protective barrier to the northern
side of Australia. Along with that, right now, China has becoming the dominant power in the
region as US dominancy fades. The author predicted that managing China’s increasing
influence and power will be the main theme of Australia’s foreign policy in the coming
decade. To this aspect, friendship with Indonesia can help tackle this particular problem
better and Indonesia has the potential to be the greatest ally of Australia. Additionally, the
good relationship between China and Indonesia has also been severed since 1965 after that
failed coup. Consequently, Indonesia also needs ally to tackle China apart from taking
decision to stand alone. This might just smoothen the initiation and rebuilding process
between the two countries. Finally, the author argues that while Australia can never ignore
the threat and danger Indonesia poses, but in current situation Australia cannot really ignore
the benefits of having Indonesia as an ally (White, 2018).
Answer to the question number 3
After the end of Second World War, Australia and Japan began a close economic
relationship and it has turn into one of the closest bilateral relationship in the span of last six
decades. Both Australia and Japan have strong tie up with the United States of America and
shared commitments like democratic values, maritime security, and trade and navigational

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freedom. The bilateral relationship between the two countries started in 1952 which was later
ratified by 1957 Commerce treaty. Japan have free trade deals with Australia and account for
16 per cent of the Australia’s export market. In 2014, the relationship ties between Japan and
Australia become ever stronger by an economic partnership agreement totalling $70 billion.
However, the military relationship between the two countries were not cohesive from the
beginning. Almost 40 years after their economic tie up, in 1992, Japan Self-Defense Force
(JSDF) and Australian Defence Force (ADF) worked jointly for the first time. This initiation
kindled the military relationship between the both country which leads to a cooperated and
multilateral military framework for various relief and humanitarian operations across the
world. In the year 2002, Japan joined for the first time in US-Japan-Australia TSD (Trilateral
Strategic Dialogue). This in turn leads to the joint announcement on Security Cooperation by
Japan and Australia in the year 2007. Recently, the relationship between Japan and Australia
took a minor dent when Australian government decided to buy French submarines instead of
Japanese ones. Although, the bilateral relationship between Japan and Australia remains
strong and must move forward hand in hand with shared values for the safety and stability of
their own future (Jacobs, 2017).
Answer to the question number 4
China has been perceived as a potential threat since before the formation of
commonwealth of Australia. This notion has been increased recently due to the economic
growth of China in the last few decades. This insurgence of Chinese power have not been
accepted similarly in the countries of Asia-Pacific. For example, in recent times countries like
India, Vietnam and the Philippines have faced the threat of China whereas Thailand and
Malaysia have been much more acceptant. In view of that, the threat of China have always
been lingered on the public discourse in Australia. Internationally, Australia have an alliance
with the USA since 1940s. The recent strenuous relationship between China and USA and

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China’s emergence as global power has put this alliance in consideration. This situation
related Chinese influence has been aggravated through foreign policies taken by Australian
government specially John Howard government. The approach of John Howard government
was at first threat and then friendship. Apart from that, perceived threat of China has social
and economic concerns to the current Australian society and economy. As for economic
concern, China and Australia has close economic tie up between them and depend on each
other like demand of steel from China and Australia’s mining power to provide the ore.
Another example is that, China will invest $60 million in real estate sector of Australia
between 2015 – 2021 which almost two times more than the previous 6 years. So, to
summarize, it can be said that right now China is still not a regional security threat to
Australia but there is a huge probability that it might become one (Goodman, 2017).
Answer to the question number 5 part a
From the time of British colonies, Australian and New Zealand have shared a strategic
concern over the Pacific islands. This common objective for the Oceania has been lasted for
more than two centuries and it started with the push to creation of British Oceania. It was
started by the joint effort to create the region’s first major governing organisation named
South Pacific Commission (SPC). This organisation evolved into a more explicit form
political forum managed by islands elite. Australia and New Zealand have funded this forum
since then. This has helped Australia and New Zealand to keep a control and shaping of the
policies in the Pacific islands while give the islanders a sense ownership entitlement
(Lawson, 2017).
Answer to the question number 5 part b
In the first part of the Twenty First century, Australia has decided to suspend its non-
interference policy regarding the Pacific islands. The foremost reason behind this decision is
that the coup of Fiji in 2006. The coup was caused by military commander Frank

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Bainimarama to overthrow then Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase. This coup led to the
suspension of Fiji from the forum. The decision to suspend Fiji was anonymous, although it
was unofficially argued that the pressure of Australia and New Zealand were behind this.
During the Soloman Island disaster, Prime Minister John Howard took the stance of restrain
regarding taking control of the situation. However, the Fiji coup in 2006 led Australia to
abandon their non-interference policy regarding Oceania (Lawson, 2017).

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References
Goodman, D. S. (2017). Australia and the China threat: Managing ambiguity. The Pacific
Review, 30(5), 769-782.
Jacobs, E. M. (2017). Special relations, strategic locations: Prospects for the Japan-Australia
security relationship. Policy: A Journal of Public Policy and Ideas, 33(2), 24.
Lawson, S. (2017). Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands forum: A critical
review. Commonwealth & Comparative Politics, 55(2), 214-235.
Pietsch, J & Aarons, H. (2012). Australian Engagement with Asia: Towards Closer Political,
Economic and Cultural Ties, in Juliet Pietsch and Haydn Aarons (eds.), Australia
Identity, Fear and Governance in the 21st Century. Canberra: ANU ePress, pp. 33-46.
White, H. (2018). The Jakarta switch: Why Australia needs to pin its hopes (not fears) on a
great and powerful Indonesia. Australian Foreign Affairs, (3), 7.