In what ways is Australia's economic future and ongoing security reliant upon positive relation with other states in the Asia-Pacific region?

Essay by iamsamUniversity, Bachelor'sA-, March 2009

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In what ways is Australia's economic future and ongoing security reliant upon positive relation with other states in the Asia-Pacific region?Australia's economic future and ongoing security is reliant upon positive relations with other states in the Asia-Pacific region. Geographically, Australia is a stone throw away from Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.

Even though most Australians are from the Anglo-Celtic region, one cannot deny the fact that geographically it is closer to Asia than it is to America or Europe. Australia cannot afford not to have positive relations with the Asia-Pacific region as any political and economical instability in the Asian region may possibility be a potential threat to Australian national security . According to the former opposition foreign minister Kevin Rudd, Australia is a small country on the periphery of this region, there is no other alternative but to engage with the Asia-Pacific region and to restore bipartisanship in order to avoid malaise .

An example of this is the Solomon Islands. Should Australia not provide assistance, the country will quite quickly go into a state of civil war, creating more problems for Australia in terms of refugees and people and weapons smuggling .

Australia seeks to improve its economical future by having better ties with its Asian-Pacific neighbours. The growth of China's economy and its ASEAN-China trade deals will boost Australia's economy as international cooperation improves.

Australia have for the last 30 years been trying to gain membership to ASEAN but have always been rejected until recently when it was given a one off invitation to attend . This may be a foot in the door for Australia in becoming a member of ASEAN. ASEAN is an association of Southeast Asian nation consisting of countries in the Asian region including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Lao,