The Rise of China is a Security Risk to Australia - Report Example

Question: Critically discuss the proposition that the rise of China is a security risk to Australia. Introduction The rise of China and its current developments in terms of military capabilities is a widely discussed topic today. Once an impoverished state, China is now economically the third largest country in the world, after thirty years of its ‘opening up’ policy. Emergence of China as a major economic and political force has exerted profound influence on its neighbors in Eastern Asia. The strength of Chinese economy coupled with its potential economic supremacy has forced it to exert a significant political influence in East Asia region. With its emergence as a manufacturing giant and its unmeasured consumer market, countries across Eastern Asia including Australia are of the opinion that China’s economy is headed to be the world power. Australia, as a western state located on the periphery of Asia- pacific cannot escape China’s expanding influence. Notably, it has been a beneficiary of China’s economic boom. The close bilateral relationship between China and Australia poses both an opportunity and a challenge for Australia. It is an opportunity because Australia’s economic prosperity is increasingly getting tied to China, whereas it is a challenge because Australia needs to balance its close relationship with China while maintaining its security alliance with the United States. This paper shows how China’s rise poses a security risk to Australia, especially due to its complex relations with the United States, mostly in terms of security matters. The rise of China and its impact on Australia Currently, there has been ongoing discussion about security risk posed to Australia by China’s rise, and its Asian-Pacific domination. The heated strategic competition between US and China in Asia has also heighted. As such, Australian strategists are not only worried about large -scale regional conflict in the foreseeable future, but are also concerned about the manner in which Australia should prepare herself for possible outbreak of conflict, and the conditions under which the country should join the conflict (Bates, 2005). Particularly, there is potential conflict between these powers, therefore, the need to prepare for any eventuality. It is feared that the interstate war that started in 1991 is likely to come again (Baylis & Steve, 2008). Australia has a long history of fear of external aggression by other powerful Asian giants. China’s rise, which is continuing unabated, especially in regard to its successful economic growth that is demeaning America’s influence in East Asia poses a big challenge to Australian identity (Edwards, 2005). The speedy rise of China, coupled with the relative decline of US control in the Asia-pacific, poses a challenge to Australians at all societal levels, thereby making them bear a painful experience of revising and even rethinking some of the self-beliefs and assumptions taken for granted - that their country will remain peaceful in the foreseeable future and will continue enjoying the fruits of strategic alliance with US. This forms the bedrock of psychological and physical security. Australia, today appreciates itself and its place in the world, having turned upside down following the ongoing debate by its far-sighted and most prominent policy makers who are otherwise overturning political taboos by revealing much about the future of Asia, and that of Australia in particular following the sudden rise of China. China’s military modernization In 2009, the Australian defense community expressed deep internal schism on interpretation of China’s military modernization, which they perceived as meant for offensive and defensive purpose. As such, the Australian department of defense took a hard line stance to prepare Australia for the growing Chinese military might that challenges the US control of East Asia. In spite of numerous diplomatic efforts to maintain friendly relationship with China, there has been some occasions where Australia have encountered some situations requiring it to make choices involving competing interests. Many observers have commented that Australia has been experiencing difficult tasks in plotting a diplomatic course that would totally avoid any confrontation with China, while at the same time remaining on friendly terms with a major regional partner, who may be in dispute with China. Australia has to maintain an independent position with an interest to ensure that the region as a whole remains politically stable and secure (Camilleri, 1976). Importantly, Australia recognizes that a cordial Sino- US relationship is crucial to Australia’s interests in the region, particularly in regard to China’s economic opportunities and the US security presence. China’s aggressive foreign policy Though China’s foreign policy was designed to show friendly face to the rest of the world, fears still linger about its future intentions (Bell, 2006). Australia, amongst other countries in the region publicly welcomed China’s friendliness, but still remains unsure of its long-term ambitions as it continues to engage cautiously with China. The Australian authorities cite China’s heavy investment in military, despite absence of any identifiable threat. In addition, they suggest that China’s advocacy of economic integration, together with its active engagement in multilateral agreements indicate more ambitious goals that are simply a tactic to leverage its long-term objective of regional domination. Moreover, the growth in China’s military capabilities and power at the time when its strategic roadmap is unclear poses uncertainties about its future plans. The Australian department of defense seems to agree with China’s expanded military objectives as it acknowledges that expanding military capability is a necessity to national power, and for securing its boundaries. It is also meant for cultivating political influence, and more importantly protecting its economic interests. China’s bid to modernize her military is guided by two main objectives, which include ensuring that the army wins any war, and that it will never fall down. China has been building a strong army by developing high technology weaponry and equipment with intention of fostering competent staff that can promote the idea of modernizing the military. The objective of raising China’s military capability in both equipment and weaponry research is to speed up research and production of high-technology weaponry and equipment. This development is to promote and complement growth in national economy and improve overall strength of the country. Role of Australia in solving tension between US and China Australia has been assisting US and China to overcome their political tensions that may result to a greater security threat if the two powers are to engage in war. This is as a result of having a close relationship with United States, and a warm political relationship with China. Australia is viewed to have a unique facilitative position between the two powers and, therefore, able to act as a mediator between them, by virtue of middle power status. In spite of being viewed as a mediator, the Australian leaders have stated categorically that Australia will no longer speak for US in the region or act as a middleman. Nevertheless, it will continue to do everything that is in its own interest to ensure further development. Australia reluctance to act as the chief mediator arises from US defiance to separate China’s different cultural and political values from its legitimate exercise of power, while Australia is content in building up what they have in common and not their differences (Gaddis, 2005). Conclusion Notably, Australia has been placing itself in a very awkward diplomatic position by acting as a go-between the two powers over their differences. In view of this, Australia now maintains a close relationship with the US without having to confront China on issues of mutual interest between the two powers. Therefore, Australia must maintain its current position, where it presents itself as an independent country whose interests are to ensure that the whole region remains secure and politically stable. Bibliography Bates, Gill. China’s Regional Security Strategy’ in Power Shift: China and Asia’s New Dynamics edited by David Shambaugh. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2005. Baylis, John and Steve Smith. The Globalization of World Politics 4th Edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008. Bell , Roger. Australia and the United States in the American Century: Essays in International History. Perth: The API Network, 2006. Camilleri, Jakes. An introduction to Australian foreign policy. Queensland: Jacaranda Press, 1976. Edwards, Peter. Permanent friends? Historical Reflections on the Australian-American alliance. Sydney: The Lowy Institute Sydney, 2005). Gaddis, John. Strategies of Containment: A Critical Appraisal of American National Security Policy during the Cold War. New York: Oxford University Press, 2005. Read More