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The use of diplomatic power by Australia in the Asia Pacific

Region:
1. Australia has used diplomatic power to advance its interests in the area of
immigration and refugee policy. A series of Memorandums of Understanding
Australia signed with the governments of Nauru and PNG in both 2012 and
2013 have allowed Australia to involve these two nations in its offshore
processing and resettlement programs which are aimed at deterring peoplesmugglers and Illegal boat arrivals. Of course this has had other
consequences on Australias standing in the region with regards to alleged
human rights violations.
2. As a dialogue partner with ASEAN, Australia was involved in many of the
discussions and agreements on climate change involving ASEAN member
countries such as those leading to the the ASEAN Declaration on
Environmental Sustainability, and the Singapore Declaration on Climate
Change, Energy and the Environment in 2007. Other initiatives include
Australians $200 million International Forest Carbon Initiative (IFCI) which
supported deforestation reduction efforts initiated through the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change.
see Australian Government report on ASEAN published by the
Parliamentary Library Chapter 9.

The use of economic power by Australia in the Asia-Pacific region:


1. An example where Australia has used economic power to support a
national interest can be seen through the negotiation of the Australia US
free trade agreement which was signed in 2005. This provides a clear
example of the use of economic instruments to reinforce the close security
links between Australia and the US which are enshrined in ANZUS treaty.
One of the intended outcomes of this free trade agreement (FTA) was to
create a greater level of integration between the economies of the two
countries, thus strengthening the links between them. The much heralded
economic benefits for the Australian economy which would flow from the
treaty were also sold to the Australian public as part of the benefits of
being so closely aligned with the US.

The use of aid by Australia as an instrument of power in the AsiaPacific region:


1. The decision to protect the nations of Papua New Guinea, Nauru and
Cambodia from the 40% cuts to foreign aid expenditure announced in the May
2015 Budget is an example of using aid in this manner. By maintaining the
level of aid to these nations Australia is indicating its willingness to prioritise
their needs in return for their ongoing involvement in Australias offshore
processing and resettlement of asylum seekers.
a. At the same time Australia has reduced aid to Indonesia by 40%. What
are some possible consequences of this?
b. How might Australias preferential treatment of these very poor nations
in the region be regarded? How might it impact on the way Australia is
perceived by other nations?
2. Australias Education Partnership with Indonesia involves in excess of $500

million in aid between 2011 and 2016 to expand educational opportunities for
Indonesian children and raise the overall quality of education throughout the
country. This supports the Governments stated national interest to use aid to
promote economic development (trade not aid) by building human capacity
and resources which will contribute to a more skilled Indonesian workforce.

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