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... k, discovered that a tough peace treaty was not a possibility. The development of the Cold War conditions in Asia and the outbreak of the Korean war lead to the USA reassessing the role of Japan in the post-war world. Japan was to be built up as an effective counter-balance to the spread of communism in Asia. The Australian government thus had to adjust its policy realistically to these changed circumstances, obtain the guarantee of the USA for Australian security through the ANZUS pact and consciously build up friendly relations with post-war Japan. The most significant means of improving the relations between Australia and Japan has been the increased trade between the two countries.
In July 1957, the Australian Minister for Trade, John McEwen visited Japan to complete negotiations for a Trade Agreement. Such an agreement was considered by many to be the most significant development in Australian-Japanese relations since the end of the war. Gerard Henderson's article Trade winds of change rightly alludes to effect of the trade agreement on Australia. There is no doubt that the Australia-Japan Trade Agreement in itself did much to heal the wartime wounds.
In 1957, Japan was already Australias second largest market. But the agreement, which was negotiated for Australia by John McEwen, contained benefits for both nations. Australia would no longer discriminate against Japanese imports. In return Japan agreed not to impose a duty on Australian wool and to provide freer access to certain specified agricultural products. McEwen and his advisers understood the importance of trade between Australia and Japan. Robert Menzies and External Foreign Affairs Minister Casey, shared the United States view that it was vital to have Japan on-side, rather that off-side during the Cold War.
Australias foreign relationships with China differed to that between her and Japan. In the immediate post-war period diplomatic representations between Australia and China had been maintained at a high level with both countries raising their diplomatic missions to the levels of embassies. Even after the success of the Chinese Communists in 1949, Australia still wished to establish relations with the new Communist government. Chinese intervention in the Korean War and the development of Cold War conditions in South East Asia led to dissipation of all diplomatic relations between Australia and the Chinese Communist Government. Although recognition of relations on a commercial basis led to a renewed relationship with China. Australia rejoined relations with China on a commercial purpose despite strong objections from the USA, Australia sold to China not only wool but also large quantities of wheat.
The end of the conservative era in Australia signaled the beginning of a transition to a more questioning Australian foreign policy approach. The incoming Whitlam government moved quickly to shake some of the cobwebs out of the foreign policy establishment. Remaining Australian troops were immediately pulled out of Vietnam and Red China was recognized diplomatically. Whitlam in his speech in 1972 dictates the direction to which Australias foreign policy would take: The change of government provides a new opportunity for us to reassess the whole range of Australian foreign policies... Our thinking is towards a more independent Australia... an Australia which will enjoy a growing standing as a distinctive, tolerant, cooperative and well-regarded nation, not only in the Asia and Pacific region, but in the world.
Despite a more radical leftist rhetoric, the Whitlam government remained completely committed to the American alliance and differences in foreign policy with their conservative opponents were ultimately more of style than of substance. He stated that Australias foreign policy would continue to be directed at maintaining the nations security and integrity, but new initiatives would be pursued. As a major step towards attaining more friendly relations with Asian powers, the Whitlam government sought to reduce Australias commitment to alliances and military groupings which identified particular nations at potential enemies on the theory that such arrangements generated enmities and suspicion. Although the Whitlam government aimed to diminish the sense of automatic obedience to the will of the protector-USA- and desired also to decrease the militarist aspects of former Australian commitment, it nevertheless placed great value on the maintenance of the ANZUS pact. The maintenance of our alliance with the United States under ANZUS remains most important for out security, since by its very nature it has created the guarantees in the Pacific... to pursue political, economic and social goals without fear of hostile intervention or attack.
The Whitlam government merely accelerated the pace of change within Australias foreign policy, change that the conservative governments of the late 1960 s and early 1970 s were politically unable to make. The conservative government that followed after the Whitlam government continued on with this more independent foreign policy style, adopting many which conservatives had criticized when they had be advocated by the Whitlam government. The Fraser Liberal Government in its foreign policy endeavors sought to re-establish a warmth in American-Australian relations. Fraser and his minister for Foreign Affairs Andrew Peacock made strong efforts to clarify their intention to cooperate with the USA and clearly aligned themselves with US President Jimmy Carters human rights policy. Mr Peacock declared that the relationship with the USA was founded on the shared values and aspirations of the American and Australian people.
The Fraser government also displayed its intention to sustain a strong working relationship with Asian nations. Malcolm Fraser went to great lengths to demonstrate his continuance of Whitlam's detente with China, his visit to the communist country was a confirm ment of this commitment. The government also actively promoted co-operation with ASEAN. Mr. Peacock described the Association as an example of the best sort of practical regional self-help and co-operation.
Australias foreign policy in South East Asia was inextricable tied to ASEAN which was formed in 1967. ASEAN is an example of an regional association whose effectiveness has grown steadily, largely because it has gradually expanded its role according to need rather than be definition. The ASEAN group developed the potential to be a very influential force in Asia and the Pacific, its importance can be judged by the fact that the ASEAN nations now constitute Australias second biggest export market, ranking only behind Japan and ahead of the European Community and the USA. A recent development, stemming from the effectiveness of ASEAN is APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation Council). Launched in 1989 at Seoul, on the initiative of the Australian delegation. To an even greater extent than ASEAN, the membership of APEC bridges ideological differences and brings together nations that were formally antagonists.
The fifteen members of APEC are: Australia, Brunei, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand and the USA. The Fraser governments direction of foreign policy differed in some aspects to that of the earlier and later governments. Fraser during his time in office was adamant in his anti-apartheid stance in which he sought to ban certain racial groups from entering Australian. The Hawke-Keating government (1983 - 1996) saw the further development of multi-literalist approach in Australias foreign policy, and an activist role for Australian foreign ministers, first under Bill Hayden and then under Gareth Evans. Hayden worked assiduously to cement positive relationships and to facilitate trade, commerce and investment between Australia and its Asian neighbors. On the other hand, Evans stressed that Australias foreign policy was directed to pursing its own interests with maximum effectiveness, but in a way that would make a positive contribution to a more peaceful and prosperous world.
Australias two major assets were said to be its status as a middle power with a capacity to exert effective influence and along-side south-east Asia on the Pacific rim. Evans was a fervent advocate of the policy of enmeshment with Asian nations: the process by which the trade, investment and commercial relationships between any two given nations become so inter-dependent. Great political and economic changes occurred in the international system during this period, the rise of Japan as a rival to the US in the economic realm, the emergence of East Asia as a world economic powerhouse and the demise of the Soviet Union and subsequent ending of the Cold War, in which the US emerged as the worlds sole superpower. Although the Australia-US alliance remained important to Australia, a new foreign policy approach was needed. Before Evans, the interpretation of Australian foreign policy was though the lens of dependency upon the US, mainly though the central institution of the ANZUS alliance.
From the mid- 80 s Australian foreign policy emphasis increasingly shifted to multi-liberalism and coalition-building within international relations and collective security within a regionalism setting. Australia identified itself as a middle power capable of acting as an honest broker on the international stage. Australia began to more view itself as one of a group of states with liberal-democratic traditions which could act in concert to influence the larger powers, recognizing the limits of a middle-power state acting unilaterally. Nevertheless, the familiar pattern of reliance upon a great protector remains. For all the rhetoric of closer engagement with Asia, the US remains the central factor in the actual execution of Australian foreign policy.
For all the treaties with the countries of South East Asia, most Australians would know that should Australia call for assistance in the time of need, such assistance will not come from within the region. Australias Near North will remain an area of instability for some decades to come and the sources of most security threats to Australia. Despite Australias high profile in the UN, this organization is slow to react and politically unreliable. Thus, despite seemingly radical changes in policy stances Australia will probably continue to pay its political dues the US in order to secure US military backing in time of threat. Hence, the nature of Australian foreign policy from 1945 to the 1990 s has changed dramatically since Events initial UN involvement which inextricably brought Australia into the limelight of the world stage to that of ongoing Asian foreign policy endeavors throughout the 1990 s. A significant change in foreign policy nature from the post-war period to the 1990 s has lead Australia to become powerful country with multi-national allies and trade agreements.
Both Liberal and Labor governments of Australia throughout the post-war period of 1945 to the 1990 s have aided in creating a strong foreign policy for Australia, in which the country is symbolized for. Australias foreign policy has been driven by a carefully defined sense of national interest, conducted with a realistic appreciation of the slope of our influence, focused and realistically selective in character and effective in achieving results and in building in to the process a positive image of Australia as a diplomatically active country, conducting a responsible foreign policy with imagination and energy, Gareth Evans (Australian Foreign Minister.
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Research essay sample on South East Asia Post War Period
