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Air Power Australia Analysis
2005-03
19th May 2005
A Paper
by Dr Carlo Kopp, MAIAA, MIEEE, PEng,
Peter Goon, BE (Mech), FTE (USNTPS)
Text © 2005 Carlo Kopp, Peter Goon
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Abstract
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The rapid economic growth
and industrialisation of the People’s Republic of China over the last
decade presents Australia with a new strategic reality during this
decade - the emergence of China as a regional economic and military
superpower. This requires some fundamental changes in how Australia
thinks about the region and its position in the Pacific Rim and Asian
political, military and cultural context. Australia can no longer focus
on South East Asia as its principal strategic concern within the
region. An intellectually rigorous policy must exist in relation to
Australia’s relationship with China, and China’s future relationships
across the region. Not to define such a policy will expose Australia to
all of the unwanted byproducts of a shifting balance of economic and
military power across the region. China’s consistently growing economy
has produced a wide range of side-effects, which will continue as time
progresses. Many of these will impact China’s behaviour on the regional
and global stage. Australia’s long term strategic relevance in the
region will depend strongly on Asia’s perceptions of Australia’s
strength, and thus its capacity to play an important role in the
regional strategic context. If Australia is to earn the respect it
deserves in Asia, its must be seen to have military capabilities which
are both important and relevant to the region.
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