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Australia's greatest long term challenge is maintaining a strong economy in an age where power has shifted from the nation state to regional power blocs. Still predominantly European and Anglo Saxon in culture, (though Melbourne and Sydney have taken great strides to becoming multi cultural cities in the past three decades), the "tyranny of distance" as coined by the historian Donald Horne means geography and culture remain in curious juxtaposition. Asia policy has for many years ranged from xenophobia and paranoia (as in the White Australia policies earlier this century) to sycophancy. ...But mainly just plain confusion. A rojak at least.
Australia's policy on East Timor, as the only nation to recognise Indonesian sovereignty, and now the greatest critic of Indonesian government actions reflects this clearly. Australia recognised and tacitly endorsed Indonesia's invasion of East Timor partly as a genuflective token to their closest neighbour, ten times their size in population, but mainly, hand in hand with the US, to protect the interests of the oil industry. Part of Australia's current Indonesian problem is that they turned a blind eye to corruption and highly suspect business and management practices, falling for the Asian values argument rather than universal values. Malaysia is another problem for the Australians, where present PM Mahathir Mohamad sees absolutely no role for Australia in the region, snubbing APEC, and regularly positing new Asia-only alliances like the East Asian caucus and ASEAN, that effectively bar or marginalize Australia from any meaningful participation. Politics aside however, long term blood runs deeper than short term politics, and the friendships built up over very many years between the Indonesian and Malaysian people through military, educational and business partnerships will eventually prevail. Relatives of soldiers lost during the Indonesian invasion are understandably upset that the sacrifice of their loved ones seems now to be naught with the East Timorese independence vote. But the East Timorese must also be defended while the Indonesian government and military seem unable to protect the safety of their own people. The welfare of all people is an international concern, not only a national responsibility. It is also a regional concern. Jihad apart, the great majority of Indonesians realise that the UN involvement is not in any way an attack on the Indonesian people, a system, nor a religion, despite inflammation of anti Western and Australian sentiment by politicians, sections of the military, and the factional as well as mainstream Indonesian press (the latter which should really know better)... While leadership of the UN Peace-keeping Force poses great threats to Australia's relationship with Asia, it also presents the greatest opportunity for Australians to prove their commitment to the region through the great and real Australian virtues of equality, directness, fairness, mateship, and sympathy for the under-dog. Perhaps that is the greatest contribution Australia can make to the new Asia. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Indonesian people, the East Timorese people, the members of the UN international peace-keeping force, and the Indonesian military at this time. It's a difficult job, and may well help in answering the age old question.. ...How much can a Koala bear?...
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The views expressed here may not necessarily reflect those of partners of the Asia Pacific Management Forum
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