China, Pacific Geopolitics, and Aussie Aid Views "Penny-Pinching"

China and the Geopolitics of the the Pacific Islands 

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Joanne Wallis, Senior Lecturer, Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University, writes:
  
Australian debates about the geopolitics of the Pacific islands in many ways represent the broad contours of discussions about Australia’s foreign and strategic policy, notably our relations with China. It’s possible to identify two dominant perspectives in these debates.

The first concerns the risk that, over the coming decades, a potentially hostile China establishes a strategic foothold in the Pacific islands from which it could threaten Australia. Preventing this has been identified as one of Australia’s primary strategic interests for the past 30 years. 


These concerns have recently been heightened by, for example, the assertive stance taken by Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe at the recent Shangri-La Dialogue, or the comment by Professor Yu Lei from Liaocheng University, at a workshop at the Australian National University on 3 June, that it would be helpful for Beijing to have military bases in the Pacific islands to break the ‘encirclement’ of China.   Read more.

Pacific Penny-Pinching not good policy


When it comes to “stepping-up” in the Pacific, Australians get the what, they get the who, and they get the why. But they still have a long way to go before they’re convinced that spending more on foreign aid is in the national interest.

Attitudes towards the Pacific revealed in the Lowy Institute Poll show Australians taking a pragmatic if parochial approach to foreign policy in the region.

Australian are broadly supportive of increased engagement. They agree there’s a moral obligation to help the region (77%) and – encouragingly – they believe Australia’s aid is making a difference. (60% disagree that aid has little impact on the Pacific).

Australians are also strongly on board with attempts to stymie increased Chinese influence in the region (73%). They support (54%) a plan to extend Australia’s regional military presence with a joint base with the US on PNG’s Manus Island. More than three quarters of Australians (77%) would happily send their soldiers to prop up a troubled nation in the region.
Illustration: Matthew Martin

But as for spending more money to help the development of their neighbours – and other countries around the world?

The answer is a resounding no, thanks. Only 49% believe Australia should spend more on aid in the region – and 48% disagreed.

Nothing in the government’s current approach is likely to persuade them otherwise.  .Read more