- The Strategist - https://www.aspistrategist.org.au -
Australia into ASEAN: the ASEAN 'YES’
Posted By Graeme Dobell on December 7, 2015 @ 06:00
‘In the long run, Australia will also have no choice but to seek membership in ASEAN. Right now, any such option is unthinkable in the minds of the Australian elite. Yet this is precisely the kind of “unthinkable” option that Australia has to consider as it enters the most challenging geopolitical environment of its history. In thinking of the unthinkable, Australian leaders should also ask themselves a simple question: why is Australian membership of ASEAN unthinkable? In due course, the honest answer will come out. The main disconnect between ASEAN and Australia is in the cultural dimension. ASEAN is Asian in culture and spirit. Australia is Western in culture and spirit. The main reason why Australia will be uncomfortable as a member of ASEAN is that it will have to learn how to behave as an Asian rather than as a Western nation. In thinking about this discomfort, Australians should bear in mind a new reality for Australia. Australia will have to change course in the Asian century. It will only have painful options. There will be no painless options. The big question that Australia will have to ponder as it looks ahead at its future in the 21st century is a simple one: will it be more painful for Australia to join ASEAN (and thereby accept both its constraints and its valuable geopolitical buffer) or will it be more painful for Australia to remain beached alone as the sole Western country (with New Zealand) in a resurgent Asia of 3.5 billion people?’
‘From China’s point of view, it means Australia is less pro-American and more sensitive to its Asian neighbourhood; it’s a plus for China. If you want to join ASEAN you become less pro-American and you behave more like an ASEAN state, it’s in their [China’s] interests.’
‘I may be wrong, but I don’t think so. I mean, you need to lay the groundwork. You need to prepare everyone for the change. The problem is no one has ever thought about it because it wasn’t in the cards. Once it appears on the cards then they’ll start thinking and reflecting on the pros and cons.’
‘I think the critical thing is to decide whether or not you think it’s in your national interest to join, and work towards that goal. Observer status is just a little subterfuge to try and get close on the way there – it should not become the end destination.’
Article printed from The Strategist: https://www.aspistrategist.org.au
URL to article: https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/australia-into-asean-the-asean-yes/
[1] Image: http://www.aspistrategist.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Screen-Shot-2015-12-05-at-11.20.37-PM.png
[2] membership of ASEAN: http://www.aspistrategist.org.au/why-australia-should-join-asean/
[3] Foreign Affairs: http://www.aspistrategist.org.au/canberra-questions-why-australia-should-join-asean/
[4] negatives: http://www.aspistrategist.org.au/the-semi-groucho-on-australian-joining-asean/
[5] Kishore Mahbubani: http://www.mahbubani.net/biography.html
[6] ‘Yes case here: http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/researchschool/emerging_asia/papers/Mahbubani_final.pdf