Defense paper praises China's peaceful rise
Source: AFP |
May 4, 2013, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
AUSTRALIA welcomed China's rise and said it did not regard the Asian giant an adversary, in a military roadmap issued yesterday which marked a shift from rhetoric that has angered Beijing in the past.
The defense white paper, which includes a US$1.5 billion commitment to buy 12 new Boeing EA-18G Growler jets to counter delays in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program, was seen as more measured than its predecessor.
China was rankled by warnings in the 2009 edition that the "pace, scope and structure" of its "militarization" could concern regional neighbors - straining diplomatic relations with Australia, a major trading partner.
The latest paper is significantly less hawkish on China, welcoming the country's rise and describing its military expansion as a "natural and legitimate outcome of its economic growth."
"The government does not approach China as an adversary. Rather, its policy is aimed at encouraging China's peaceful rise and ensuring that strategic competition in the region does not lead to conflict," it said.
It also noted India's emergence "as an important strategic, diplomatic and economic actor" and said the Indian Ocean is becoming one of the world's most strategically significant areas, with Southeast Asia as its center.
"The region's big strategic challenges will last for decades and their mismanagement could have significant consequences," it said.
Australia's resources-rich Indian Ocean coast is the hub of its mining and energy exports to Asia and the paper identified an "enhanced and more visible presence" in the country's northwest as a priority.
The blueprint said war games took place in the region last year based around resources and energy assets and the defense force "needs to be postured to support high-tempo military operations in Australia's northern and western approaches."
As expected, it emphasized the importance of Australia's ties with the US, its major military partner, noting the beefing up of the alliance since 2009 with the stationing of 2,500 Marines in Darwin.
"It's pleasing to see the statement finally tackling, and dismissing, the tired shibboleth of having to choose between China and the US," said Peter Jennings, executive director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.
"Neither wants us to choose, nor is it in our strategic interests to do so."
The defense white paper, which includes a US$1.5 billion commitment to buy 12 new Boeing EA-18G Growler jets to counter delays in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program, was seen as more measured than its predecessor.
China was rankled by warnings in the 2009 edition that the "pace, scope and structure" of its "militarization" could concern regional neighbors - straining diplomatic relations with Australia, a major trading partner.
The latest paper is significantly less hawkish on China, welcoming the country's rise and describing its military expansion as a "natural and legitimate outcome of its economic growth."
"The government does not approach China as an adversary. Rather, its policy is aimed at encouraging China's peaceful rise and ensuring that strategic competition in the region does not lead to conflict," it said.
It also noted India's emergence "as an important strategic, diplomatic and economic actor" and said the Indian Ocean is becoming one of the world's most strategically significant areas, with Southeast Asia as its center.
"The region's big strategic challenges will last for decades and their mismanagement could have significant consequences," it said.
Australia's resources-rich Indian Ocean coast is the hub of its mining and energy exports to Asia and the paper identified an "enhanced and more visible presence" in the country's northwest as a priority.
The blueprint said war games took place in the region last year based around resources and energy assets and the defense force "needs to be postured to support high-tempo military operations in Australia's northern and western approaches."
As expected, it emphasized the importance of Australia's ties with the US, its major military partner, noting the beefing up of the alliance since 2009 with the stationing of 2,500 Marines in Darwin.
"It's pleasing to see the statement finally tackling, and dismissing, the tired shibboleth of having to choose between China and the US," said Peter Jennings, executive director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.
"Neither wants us to choose, nor is it in our strategic interests to do so."
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