A new report from Melbourne University’s Asialink argues today that Australia aught to be engaging ASEAN. The advantages are many:
This report argues that Australia’s engagement with that part of Asia closest to us—Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and the other seven nations of ASEAN)—is fundamental to how we operate internationally. Knowing this region, working with it, debating with the different countries there—and being seen internationally to be focused in this way—enhances Australia’s wider influence in Asia and beyond. Working from an Australia-Southeast Asia base will nhelp us to adjust politically to the dramatic rise of China. It also makes Australia a more valuable United States ally.
But as sensible as this is, the report’s recommendations very obviously run afoul of cultural and political limitations:
Faced with such uncertainty, many Australians continue to seek security in our long-established United States alliance. But a new era demands a new strategy—one that seeks to change our international personality, our international narrative. We need a strategy that changes the way we view ourselves and how others view us. Seventy years ago we looked beyond our British connection and towards the United States. Now we talk increasingly of a ‘deeper and broader engagement’ with Asia, to use the language of the 2012 Australian Government White Paper, Australia in the Asian Century. But how do we go about building such engagement?
Yes, Asian engagement, it’s back. A very sensible, some would say vital, strategic imperative that is a political graveyard. The Asian Century White Paper studiously avoided any mention of such and hands up anyone who can see our Tony embracing such? We will make it as an Anglo-Saxon liberal democracy on the verge of Asia or will not make it at all.
TheThirdWay ASIALINK 11 2012 Small
