- The Strategist - https://www.aspistrategist.org.au -
Canberra questions why Australia should join ASEAN
Posted By Graeme Dobell on October 12, 2015 @ 06:00
‘Yeah, the day might come, but they're very proud, the 10 ASEAN nations are very proud of what they call ASEAN centrality. And you don't force your way in to a community before time. To be right before it's appropriate is to be wrong. The day could well come, but I suspect now is not the time. But again this is where Paul Keating has been very, very useful, he's challenging us to think about a different future, about different arrangements in the future. I would not want Australia to put its hand up to seek membership of ASEAN at a point where the 10 ASEAN nations focused on ASEAN centrality, focused on some of the challenges in South-east Asia, the emergence of Myanmar towards democracy, for example; or the disputes over territory in the South China Sea, were not ready for an Australian admission.’
‘The submission says membership of ASEAN would 'subordinate aspects of Australian foreign policy to ASEAN. It would require Australia to refrain from any real criticism of ASEAN governments (e.g. on human-rights issues) and from putting forward alternatives to ASEAN positions. It would require Australia to accept other ASEAN countries, notably the ASEAN Chair, representing Australia in discussions with external parties such as the United States, China and international organisations.' It then goes on to warn that membership of ASEAN would involve with it Australia having to set up an ASEAN National Secretariat to implement ASEAN decisions at the national level and that in general it would cramp Australian independence. It also warns that ASEAN countries would be strongly opposed to Australia joining. It says the Singaporean High Commissioner was twice asked informally if recent public commentary is as a result of policy consideration with the Australian government.’
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[1] Image: http://www.aspistrategist.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/53320747_1b02d60c88_z.jpg
[2] observer status: http://www.aspistrategist.org.au/why-australia-should-join-asean/
[3] balance of power: http://www.aspistrategist.org.au/asias-balance-of-power-big-fact-and-top-trend/
[4] the rules?: http://www.aspistrategist.org.au/who-rules-in-writing-asias-rules/
[5] the rate of deterioration: http://www.aspistrategist.org.au/asias-trend-and-temperature/
[6] his memoirs.: https://www.newsouthbooks.com.au/books/diary-foreign-minister/
[7] gave this speech: http://www.keating.org.au/shop/item/keith-murdoch-oration-state-library-of-victoria
[8] answer: http://foreignminister.gov.au/transcripts/2012/bc_tr_121115.html