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conduct as bullying and coercion. What do you think about this silence? Why does
Australia need to raise its voice?
ANSWER: Australia has not been entirely silent. It was a party to the Trilateral Security
Dialogue joint statement along with the United States and Japan. And Australia and
the United States both addressed China’s aggressive actions in the South China Sea in
the joint statement following their annual ministerial meeting. Like ASEAN, these joint
statements specifically mentioned actions that were de=stabilizing but did not
mention China by name.
Q4- Canberra has seemed quite "on and off" in countering an increasingly aggressive
China so far, even though Australia is one pillar of the "Quad" in the Indo-Pacific
region. What is your take on that?
ANSWER: China is Australia’s largest trading partner and the current prosperity of
Australia is due in no small part to this relationship. Australia is also a treaty ally of the
United States. The present government rejects that argument that Australia needs to
pick sides. Australia cannot oppose China’s aggressiveness alone and will work with
the United States and other likeminded countries such as Japan to maintain peace and
security in the region.
The Quad includes India and works on the basis of consensus. It is a dialogue forum
not an alliance. India is key, it wants to counter China over land border issues and
China’s military presence in the Indian Ocean. India does not want to give the
appearance that is has joined a. grouping that aims to contain China. In fact, on
occasion India has prevented Australia’s participation because of its memory of Prime
Minister Kevin Rudd announcing Australia’s withdrawal from the Quad 0.1 while on a
visit to China.
The Quad should be viewed as nothing more than a security dialogue and not as an
anti-China coalition.
Q5- What can Australia do to support Vietnam, as well as to protect Canberra's
strategic interests, in the South China Sea?
ANSWER: There are five pillars of cooperation in the Australia-Vietnam strategic
partnership. The first pillar is political cooperation. Australia can coordinate with
Vietnam to call out China’s aggressive behavior and argue for adherence to
international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The second pillar includes cooperation in defence, intelligence and security. This
includes the mutual exchange of strategic assessments as well as practical Australian
assistance for maritime security cooperation building.
The fifth pillar includes regional and international cooperation to address political and
security issues. The two sides can coordinate their approaches in multinational
institutions under the ASEAN umbrella as well as other international bodies such as
the United Nations.
Australia can support is strategic interests by supporting ASEAN, particularly in 2010
when Vietnam will become ASEAN Chair.
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