In an article published today for The Australian, Rowan Callick mused on theapparentsuccessoftalks held this month by Prime Minister Tony Abbott during his recent Asian tour. Returning with two signed Free Trade Agreements and another in discussion, the success of the tour is at odds with the common attitude that Australia’s Liberal governments are poor leaders of Asian diplomacy.
As part of the article he interviewedProfessorAndrew O’Neil, director of Griffith University’s Asia Institute.O’Neil said“Many allege Australia lost ground in Asia under the Howard government, which was averse to evenusing the term ‘Asian engagement’ in its foreign policy pronouncements.
‘‘But the government actually presided over a substantial deepening of Australia’s networks in Asia, most strikingly in the areas of education and humanitarian assistance. Abbott’s near-trifecta of FTAs among our most important regional economic partners is following in these footsteps.’’
He adds: “The tougher challenge for the Abbott government will be whether it’s able to navigate in coming years the snakepit that is North Asian geopolitics.
“On the East China Sea dispute, Abbott’s natural inclination will be to side with Japan, but this will come at a potential cost in terms of our relationship with Beijing, and possibly even Seoul.”
O’Neil says both sides of politics like to claim important legacies in terms of their historical contribution.
“Interestingly, Labor opposed the 1957 commerce agreement with Japan while the Coalition opposed (Gough) Whitlam on China, so both sides have form in making the wrong calls.
“Abbott’s trip to me reinforces the point that no side of politics can assume the high ground when it comes to deepening our engagement with Asia.”