Australian Government Raises Alarm over China’s Assertiveness in Indo-Pacific

China, the most populous nation on the planet wants to increase its influence by digging further into its pockets — flush with cash after decades of rapid growth — to splash out with its “One Belt, One Road” policy.

New Delhi, MINA – Australia’s first foreign policy White Paper in 14 years released on Thursday has raised alarm over China’s growing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region and picked India along with Japan, Indonesia and South Korea “of first order importance to Australia” to hedge Beijing’s ambitions, economictimes.indiatimes.com reported.

The paper close on the heels of Quadrilateral meet in Manila echoed India’s concerns over China’s One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative and stated that the region’s stability depends ultimately on China and the US managing their tensions.

The paper urges USA to remain engaged in Indo-Pacific region to balance China’s rise. The paper made it clear that Australia needed to hedge its bets by reaching out to other like-minded countries as it singled out Japan, India, Indonesia and South Korea, and also called for closer ties in South East Asia.

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The paper is categorical about Australia’s apprehensions of the US diluting its leadership role that has helped maintain order and allow economic growth in the region since World War II.

Australia should do more to encourage the US to remain engaged in Asia, the paper suggested. “The Foreign Policy White Paper we’re delivering today presents a framework for facing the challenges of an uncertain future with confidence…Our objective is an Indo-Pacific that is secure, that is open and prosperous.

Now the rules, norms and institutions that enable freedom and opportunity have been painfully difficult to build… UNCLOS has brought stability and security and these have in turn delivered enterprise, trade and sustainable development,” Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull said while launching the paper without direct reference to China’s ambitions that has challenged rule of law in the region.

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Notwithstanding his assertions on the significance of UNCLOS that has been undermined by Beijing, Turnbull praised China along with India. “You could not imagine, in fact, modern Australia without our over one million strong Chinese community, any more than you could imagine it without our more than half a million strong and rapidly growing Indian community.

We admired, and envied a little, we politicians, the enthusiastic welcome received by Prime Minister Modi and President Xi and Premier Li during their recent visits.”

Highlighting the significance of the Quadrilateral meeting, Turnbull said, “…the second way we’re shaping our region. A good example is when officials of Japan, India, the US and Australia met in the margins of the East Asia Summit in Manila earlier this month. I discussed the importance of this initiative with Prime Minister Modi in Manila at our meeting.”

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The Australian PM also stressed the special nature of US-Australia ties and stated that personally he remained very confident about America’s longterm commitment to the rules-based system in this region. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Ageny (MINA)