Australia Role in Regional Security of South Pacific
By David Raja Marpaung S.IP M.Def
Australia plays the main role in south pacific multilateral cooperation. They have the biggest GDP than others, and give support to other countries .This condition is related with the weakness of most of south pacific countries, which are:
A. Destabilize political condition[1]
Some countries in the South Pacific region have experience on destabilize political condition, such as PNG, Fiji, Vanuatu, and Solomon Island
B. Very dependent to the other country.
From the 22 political entities in the South Pacific only nine which are independent state. Eight political entities are overseas territory of one kind or another belonging to external states. Developed country play important role in order to give subsidy and take care the stability. It makes this region very dependent on developed country
C. Deficiencies of Public Service
Corruption issues, nepotism, tribal favoritism, failure of public service, and failure of system border control in most South Pacific Countries
Australian Role in South Pacific can be classified with Bary Buzans Dimensions of Analysis
Economic | - Economic aid and donation through AUSAID to neighbor countries -Economic leader in South Pacific Forum - Actively promote the sustainability of Pacific fisheries through a fisheries mentorship program, a regional Sustainable Seas program, and a revitalised Patrol Boat Program -Ancourage Pacific governments to remove regulatory barriers to the informal sector o the economy |
Societal | - Australia’s policing deployments in the Pacific and near neighboring countries -Neighborly humanitarian aid -Build multiculturalism in South Pacific |
Environmental | -Control in trade of (CITES) and the protection of the natural environment -Conventions -Treat climate change as a regional security threat -Actively promote the sustainability of Pacific forests - Australian government took a leading role in highlighting the problems caused by irresponsible forestry, fisheries and other exploitation |
Political | -Engagement in many regional organization -Anti Terrorism Foreign Policy with involving other South Pacific countries -Leader in Treaty of Rarotonga also kown as the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty |
Military | - Military operation in neighbor countries, such as PNG, East Timor, and Solomon Islands -Leader in Maritime Security with sponsoring equipment procurement -improve its intelligence on Pacific Islands politics through Pacific Transnational Crime Co-ordination Centre (PTCCC)[2] - ANZUS (Australia, New Zealand, the United States) to keep security in South Pacific -Work with other countries on improving internal security, such as PNG and Solomon Islands |
Australia Hegemonic Role in Multilateralism in Region
Australia role in south pacific region can be define as hegemonic way to influence and ‘control’ the neighbor.
Hegemony in Economy
- Australia has the biggest economy and military in South Pacific. Australian business interests control half of Fiji's economy; they dominate PNG, East Timor and the Solomon Islands and have a powerful presence in New Zealand
- There are a lot of precondition in terms of accept funding from AUSAID. The conditions usually relate with Australia National Interest in South Pacific. Often, contradict with another countries policy and strategy
-Pacific nations already have duty free and quota free access to Australian markets. Australia also wants Pacific governments to allow unfettered access to Pacific service “markets” for Australian companies, and to remove regulations on Australian investment in the region such that responsibilities to host nations will be reduced[3]
- Improvements in Rules of Origin requirements, removal of trade barriers rules in Australia and NZ are all initiatives that would expand Pacific export opportunities[4]
-Most recently, the Australian government has been at the forefront of pressuring Pacific island countries to adopt neo-liberal economic policies and privatization[5]
Hegemony in Social
- Multiculturalism becomes a tools for Australia acknowledge their idea of ‘ideal’ society. But Australia also widespread its political values, such as democracy, culture of capitalism, and etc.
- A lot of foreign Aid by AUSAID build legitimacy that Australia is ‘Super Power’ in the region
- Some academics and media commentators have described the levels of aid, especially to PNG, as "generous" and "altruistic". This misses the point. The primary function of Australian aid to the countries in the region is to ensure those countries perform their roles as secure and profitable centres for the expansion of Australian capital[6]
Hegemony in Politics
- In 2000, a defense policy paper declared: "Australia has a vital interest in supporting long-term U.S. strategic engagement in Asia and in helping prevent destabilizing strategic competition among the regional powers."
- After Sending military power to Solomon Island, Australian government bureaucrats are taking over the functions of the Solomon Islands state, including the key positions in the legal system, the police force, the prison system, the central bank and the civil service
Hegemony in Military
- Australia sent military forces to Solomon Island in 2003. The action was codenamed Operation For Helping friend. Australia sent troops in 199 to East Timor. Australia build an image as Sheriff in South Asia Region, so they can sent military power to any conflict or fragile country[7]
-The presence of Australian Federal Police in South Asia in order to help Australia monitoring security in the region, and collect information related with national interest.
[1] Pacific Island Economies: Prospects for Development Pacific Island Economies: Prospects for Development, attachment:/1/pacific-island-economies-prospects-development.htm, accessed on Jan 28, 09.00 am
[2] www.globalcollab.org/Nautilus/australia/australia-in-pacific pacific-transnational-crime-coordination-centre accessed on Jan 29, 09.00 am
[3] The role of Australian imperialism in the Asia-Pacific regionhttp://links.org.au/node/116accessed on Jan 28, 07.00 am
[4] What’s so new about Rudd’s Pacific policy? http://www.bilaterals.org/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=86 accessed on Jan 29, 03.00 am
[5] Australia-New Zealand Colonial Agenda http://www.asiantribune.com/oldsite/archives.php accessed on Jan 29, 09.00 am
[6] Ibid.
[7] Australian PM outlines indefinite military agenda in South Pacific, http://www.worldproutassembly.org/archives/asia accessed on Jan 28, 09.00 am
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