It has been long debated whether Australia should be considered as part of the Asian

continents. Due to its distinctive geographical position, officials believe that it is an Asia-
Pacific country (Smith, 2010). Even though Australia has ‘white’ background, it is however
culturally very diverse. This presumably is related to Australia's invitation to non-western
foreigners. In 1970, Australia ended the White Australia Policy hence this played a very
significant role in the escalation of non-European immigration (“Australia's cultural links”,
n.d, ¶5). Hugo (2005, p. 4) states that This ‘reform’ would not only lead aid Australia form its
own cultural entity but also created closer links to these Asia-Pacific countries, as Australia
receives a high majority of its immigrants from. Because of Australia`s geographic location,
its economical relationships are tighter with its neighbours in the area. Australia has taken
many steps in the political arena of Asia-Pacific; these attempts have proven to be
impressive. Almost certainly, having a strong influence, a powerful economy and its
persuasiveness in human rights gives Australia its strength in the region. In terms of
international relationships, it could be said that for Australia there is no enemies but only
competitors. Countries do need each other as it is logical to be aware of the concept of
‘competitive advantage’ especially in this highly globalised world. In regards to this, it could
be said that Australia’s relationships with the Asia-Pacific are on a steady base.

As Bisley (2009, p. 34) states that power division in Asia, as well as the tactical policy shifts it
has provoked which is demonstrated best “by the growing gap between Australia’s economic
interests and its strategic policy, which as a result will force Australian policy-makers to
rethink how the alliance is valued.” Keeping all this in mind, Australia has been of significant
impact in the Asia-Pacific region. This paper will am to present Australia`s strengths in the
region and if any its weaknesses. Helpful facts will provide a better, clearer picture about the
region followed by Australia`s engagement in Asia-Pacific. Subsequently, the country`s
political influence, economical relationships, important historical and contemporary events
that Australia has been through such as TAFTA, its support with Ava-influenza disease, East
Timor intervene and further issues.

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FACTS ON ASIA-PACIFIC IN RELATION TO AUSTRALIA

The region encompasses 48 countries and territories and its approximated population of
those countries is four billion which makes up just about 60 percent of the world’s
population (Fast Facts, 2008, p. 2). Moreover, Australia presides over the Cairns Group of
agricultural exporting nations as well as it is a vital member of the APEC (which stands for
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) forum. Around about 70 per cent of Australia’s total
trade in goods and services are accounted for within the countries’ economies which are
part of the APEC forum (Fast Facts, 2008, p. 3). El-Kahal (2002, p. 23-25) notes that
Australia`s neighbours; South Korea, China and Japan were three of the largest commodities
within the export markets. According to Department of Foreign Affair (“About Australia`s a
successful global trader”, 2008, p. 2), the largest export sector has been minerals and fuels
and subsequently, services, manufacturing as well as agricultural goods.

CONFLICTS OF ASIA-PACIFIC

UN`s fact facts publication (2008, p. 2) claims that

even though some part of the region has a positive attitude and peaceful approach such as
Nepal and Indonesia, conflicts are still occurring. This might be due to different political
stances and conflicts of interest clashes government wishes and those of the public. These
areas have been known for a large variation in public opinions and preference in
Governance, which can lead itself to rebellions and overruled governments, even hijacked
elections. Within UN`s fact facts (2008, p. 2) it is mentioned that this is supported by
Heidelberg Institute for International Conflict Research which states that the Asia and
Oceania region has suffered the highest number of conflicts in 2007, the amount accounts
for about one third of all world conflicts.

IMPORTANCE OF THE REGION

Asia is so important that it not only influences and impacts upon on Australia but also to the
rest of the world. As Smith (2010) stated in one of his speech in Madrid, Spain, overall
economic development of Asia has been growing faster than all other continents for years
however, continuing change in influence is not only related to the economical factor and

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demographical make up it also owes it to political military and tactical importance. In terms
of providing the ‘legs to stand’ to the Asia-Pacific region The United States have supplied
this ‘platform’ for stability for over the last century. Frost (2009, p. 15) states that USA will
continue hold this position as it is the un-arguably most powerful strategic leader within the
area; it will through its own power and also holding onto its vast networks and inter-
dealings with these countries.

AUSTRALIA`S STRENGHTS

Noble (2010, p. 58) affirms that Australia has following strengths:

Minerals and energy resources, competitively priced rural products including food and
fibres; an open economy with declining levels of tariff protection and a positive attitude
towards foreign investment; a well-educated workforce and a strong financial services
sector.

However, Noble (2009, p. 58) also stated that Australia has high quality engineering skills.
This, however is not as significant as other mentioned strengths such as a strong financial
sector which is well maintained and monitored. Generally, it can be said that Asia is capable
of producing high quality engineering products and services such as Japan, Korea and
arguably China.

AUSTRALIA`S ENGAGEMENT WITH ASIA-PACIFIC

Australia's engagement with Asia and especially Asia-Pacific has been the country`s main
foreign policy for many years. With the population of approximately 21,5 million (CIA, “Fact
book: Australia”, 2010), Australia is in the top 15 economies in the world. The country`s GDP
per capita is about $32,000 that is even more than Japan`s GDP per capita also Australia`s
pool of funds under management is the fourth largest. Australia is also with no doubt is the
leader in human rights in the region, for example Australia not only accepting refugees
rather easier than other countries but also does not implement death sentence if that is
thought to be a positive attribute. Hon. Smith (2010) stated that Australia`s engagement
with Asia-Pacific is not new to the foreign policy makers. For instance, China has been
recognised in 1973. One could consider this as a significant approach keeping in mind that

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China was not as considerable power as it is today, especially with its non-reformist socialist
regime. Also In 1989, PM Keating first proposed an annual APEC Leaders' Summit

More recently, during 2008 and 2009 Australia's financial support for the East Asia region
was almost $1 billion, and that is a significant amount to contribute hence showing that
Australia is one of the most important development partners for this region. By providing
this valuable funding it for fills Australia’s obligation (or appearance) of being a ‘good’ and
‘active’ international citizen in terms of public relation. It also aids in creating successful
foreign policy which in turn can support national security, economic growth and social.
Australia also values ASEAN a lot. It showed this with Australia-New Zealand Free Trade
Agreement which is the most extensive trade agreement the country has deal during the
time and is also the most wide-ranging ever negotiated by ASEAN.

SIGNIFICANT HISTORICAL AND CONTEMPORARY EVENTS AUSTRALIA

A. TAFTA (Thailand-Australia Free Trade Agreement)

TAFTA stands for Thailand-Australian Free Trade Agreement which is one of the key market
opening conformity for Australia that will lead Thai tariffs to reduce on practically all
commodities imported from Australia (TAFTA, n.d., ¶1). The governments are contracted
the agreement to be implemented by January the 1st 2005.
Thailand, with the population of 66 million, achieved 4.3% economical growth between
2000-08 it also has unemployment rate as low as 1.6%. This is a very important success as it
did manage the recover from the tough Asian Crisis in 1998.

In addition, Thailand is very important to Australia. Under TAFTA, Thailand has also agreed
to remove considerable strict visa conditions which includes work permit as well as non-
discriminatory conditions to Australians in regards to business purposes (Thailand-Australia
Free Trade Agreement TAFTA, ¶1-4). This application will allow Australian companies to
invest more freely and securely in Thai market. In relation to the reduced tariff rates by the
agreement it will also give Australian companies a good chance to export their goods and

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services in a larger amount than before hence, leading the unemployment rate to fall in
Australia.

B. FINANCIAL HELP TO INDONESIA

Australia has committed itself to a long-term development plan in partnership with

Indonesia. This development plan has been put into action in 2009-2010 when a very large
amount of aid money was sent to Indonesia, estimated to be $452.5 million. Indonesia
receives the largest amount of aid money provided by Australia, which is also suppling a vast
range of economic and technical development chances for this country. Indonesia is a
middle income earning country and because of its relationship with Australia it is growing at
a fast rate. It is important to note that government also plays a role in giving policy advice to
the country and can be sequenced with the multilateral banks.

An important date to mark down in the relationship between Indonesia and Australia is 19
February 2009, as the ministers (both Indonesian and Australian) did take a reaffirmation on
their commitment to face ‘head on’ the challenges and trials created by the global economic
crisis. These same ministers also agreed and welcomed the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand
Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA) and more importantly approved the final draft of the Joint
Feasibility Study on an Indonesia-Australia Free Trade Agreement (FTA)
(“Indonesia country brief”, 2009)

C. HEALTH SUPPORT TO ASIA-PACIFIC IN DURING THEREAT OF DISEASE OUTBREAK

Australia has been with big support to Asia for SARS and Ave Influenza diseases. According to
a report published be Scott (2009, p. 558) states that Howard government a spending
package of $100 million over four years to combat Ave Influenza (AI) and other up-and-
coming and predicted transmittable diseases all over the Asia-Pacific, announced in
November 2005. It is important to note that at the same time, fundamentally Australia also
considered its security on its own people from these diseases not only those of the other
countries. However to aid these Asia-Pacific countries with the prevention, spread, and

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treatment of these highly infectious diseases Australia is also aiding itself for its own
protection. As a result of Australia’s proximity to the Asia region and as mentioned earlier
the large amount of immigrants the country receives it is of vital importance that Australia
helps to stop these diseases as there is a high possibility that they can spread into Australia
itself. This could also occur as part of trading of goods where the original carrier of the
disease could be transported to Australia, which could even in turn case the creation of a
different ‘untreatable’ strand of the disease.

Scott (2009, p. 557) has noted that An important date to note is November 2005 where
Prime Minister John Howard announced a new package of AUD$100 over a four year period
to help combat AI and other new/possible infectious diseases within the Asia-Pacific region.
In recent times the Australian government has been backing up new international regulatory
framework of the IHR (International Health Regulation), as a member of the WHO (World
Health Origination) and had been very actively involved in debate/discussion to make sure
all changes were enforced into the IHR. The completion of these changes was made in mid
2005, thus making it an important historical change for Australian Quarantine, as the
regulation was international and ‘in-line’ with Australia’s thoughts on the matter. This also as
a result made it an important change to help aid and ensure Australia’s own domestic health
security.

What is Australia doing now?

The Australian government has invested around about AUD$600 million on strengthening
pandemic awareness since 2001 (Scott, 2009, p.564). It seems like Australia is very
considered of these issues as mentioned above, it is also related its own public interest.
Moreover, despite the fact that the majority of spending has been invested on enhancing
health systems, funds and services in Australia, approximately AUD$156 million has been
allocated to developing capacity specifically within the Asia-Pacific region. Wilson quoted
that (2008, p. 44-48) “ for developed countries like Australia, it ‘is in their interest that
countries in high-risk regions comply with the regulations, to provide an early warning so
that the developed countries can take appropriate measures to protect their populations”.
Therefore, as a result of these actions it is fair to say that Australia not only helped Asia-

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Pacific fight these mentioned diseases and gained respect but also ensured its own medical
security and public interests/protection.

D. EAST TIMOR INTERVENTION

Australian government has been involving in East Timor since 1985. Flitton (2008, ¶1)
explained what happened in East Timor shortly a sorry history of aggression, he states that it
did not begin with “the militia rampage following the 1999 independence ballot and for
more than two decades after Indonesia's 1975 invasion, the Timorese suffered”. Hundreds
of people lost their lives in East Timor however Australia was first to send humanitarian aid
to the region in their early days.

According to the DFAT (2009, ¶2-10), “Australia is determined to help make a difference in a
country which is a close neighbour and which shares Australia's interests in regional
economic development and security. Between 1999 and June 2009, Australia provided over
$820 million in Official Development Assistance (ODA) to East Timor”.

It should be interesting to note while Australia has sent troops to the region, it successfully
has maintained its peace with Indonesia. It is thought that it might be due to the fact that
Australia did not ignored the country when it was in need of aid, so that it could manage
to appear it is there to send/supply humanitarian aid to East Timor. Therefore, also gaining
respect from neighbour countries.

Nevertheless, it might be feasible to quote another look at the situation by Flitton (2008) as
“that Australia was so eager to maintain good relations with Jakarta that the Howard
government refused to acknowledge what was plain in the run-up to the independence
ballot and has once again been demonstrated by the official inquiry into the episode.”

Thus, it could be also concluded that in spite of Australia`s ‘intervention’ in East Timor, it
again managed to maintain healthy relations with Indonesia. Hence, it can be seen how
important international relations and inter-co operations within more than one nation can
influence how each nation interacts and reacts to certain situations. As, if situations
explained differently to different nations it will create a calm and trust as things need to be

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explained in a way which makes the action taken feasible and gives valid reasons for doing
so.

CONCLUSION

Australia is one of the most developed nations within the Asia-pacific region consequently it
should naturally have a large impact and action upon the region. As it is a large country and
is surrounded by water as mentioned above it unsurprisingly receives large amounts of
migrants from Asian and Pacific countries, thus we can see why Australia as a result would
place a high importance on its own security in terms of health and the stability of other
governments. As these types of situations could lead to larger amounts of immigrants due to
political unrest and violence in their home country which they seek to avoid or on the other
hand could bring in diseases which they caught their homeland. This can be an explanation
as to why Australia became involved in the East Timor situation and in addition why it has
been so actively involved with the WHO and prevention, treatment and spread of infectious
diseases throughout Asia-Pacific.

It can also be concluded that as a result of the importance maintaining a strong economical
stance and healthy economy for Australia, it is willing to deal with the nations in its local
proximity to create a solid trade base and steady government agreements. Australia has
made some ground-breaking moves in relation to trade, these were mentioned above.
Australia has managed to deal with two key countries: New Zealand and Thailand, to be
granted Free Trade Agreements, this has guaranteed a lasting relationship with these
countries. In addition to these agreements as a result of the excellent relation with
Indonesia which was created by the large amount of aid sent by Australia there is now a
possibility for a Free Trade Agreement with Indonesia.

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