During a summit on Wednesday, Australia and the Association of the South-East Asian (ASEAN) announced a new strategic partnership to expand their partnership in the Indo-Pacific.
In a joint statement with Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said, “This milestone underscores Australia’s commitment to ASEAN’s central role in the Indo-Pacific and positions our partnership for the future. Australia supports a peaceful, stable, resilient, and prosperous region, with ASEAN at its heart.”
Aside from generally reiterating the need for “peace and security in the Indo-Pacific” and “respect for an international order,” the meeting largely centred around public health, post-pandemic economic recovery, climate change, and transnational crime.
Morrison announced a package worth $154 million to fund numerous health and energy security projects, recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, efforts to combat terrorism and transnational crime, and fund hundreds of scholarships. Morrison also highlighted Australia’s commitment to providing millions of COVID-19 vaccines to the region by the end of next year.
The new package builds on the $500 million previously announced to support ongoing bilateral development programs, including health and security cooperation, with ASEAN members. In fact, Australia already has a bilateral strategic partnership with several ASEAN countries, including Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines.
Commenting on the new partnership, the chair of ASEAN, Brunei, said the collaboration with Australia would open a new chapter in ties and mutually benefit the countries.
Morrison also used the meeting to provide assurances regarding Australia’s AUKUS military partnership with the United Kingdom (UK) and the US. The alliance, announced last month, aims to counter China’s increasing influence across the South China Sea and allows Australia to build a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines with the technology shared by its partners.
Indonesia and Malaysia have expressed concerns over the military pact, saying it could intensify the arms race and existing tensions in the region. In this regard, Morrison said Australia would abide by its commitment to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and said it does not intend to acquire nuclear weapons. He reassured that AUKUS would contribute to regional stability and security. “AUKUS does not change Australia’s commitment to ASEAN or the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. Indeed, it reinforces it. It reinforces the backing that we have for an ASEAN-led regional architecture,” he declared.
However, Indonesian President Joko Widodo once again voiced his concern that AUKUS could expand regional rivalries. Likewise, although the Philippines has extended support to AUKUS, its president Rodrigo Duterte said that “it must complement and not complicate our working methods for cooperation.”
Meanwhile, China has also sought a strategic partnership with ASEAN. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, met the ASEAN countries leaders on Tuesday. In addition, ASEAN leaders are expected to virtually meet with President Xi Jinping at a special summit in November.
The US, too, has sought to expand alliances in the region. On Tuesday, US President Joe Biden met the regional leaders and representatives from ASEAN, China, India, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, and Russia during the three-day summit.
Australia, ASEAN Leaders Announce New Partnership to Expand Influence in Indo-Pacific
Australia and the Association of the South-East Nations leaders announced a new strategic partnership to bolster ties and influence in the region.
October 28, 2021
SOURCE: THE JAPAN TIMES