Australia’s Pacific Step-Up Foreign Policy as a Response to the Increase of China’s Influence in the Pacific
Abstract
The Pacific region has become highly geopolitical due to its economic, strategic, and military significance. Pacific Island countries face several challenges that they are striving to address because many Pacific Island nations have limited resources in terms of finances and skilled human resources, lack of access to technology, capacity building, and economic development, on the other side is prone to natural disasters such as cyclones, tsunamis, and earthquakes, also face challenges in providing adequate healthcare and education services, and are especially vulnerable to climate change whose impact may vary. The issue then becomes the reason for regional and global powers like Australia and China to exercise their capability and aim to fulfill their respective national interests to extent their influence in the region through their foreign policy. Influence pertains to a country’s ability to affect other nations' or international entities' decisions, actions, and behaviors. This research uses qualitative methods and foreign policy theory to address the issue further. In this research, Australia emphasizes its foreign policy to the Pacific using The Pacific Step-Up programme to pursue their interest as a long-standing partner and its neighborhood’s guardians and counter China’s growing presence and influence in the region.
Keywords: Australia, China, foreign policy, Pacific
References
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Australian Government. (2017). Foreign Policy White Paper. Accessed from https://www.fpwhitepaper.gov.au/.
Australian Government. (2019). Stepping Up Australia's Engagement With Our Pacific Family. Accessed from https://www.dfat.gov.au/sites/default/files/stepping-up-australias-engagement-with-our-pacific-family.pdf
Ayson, R. (2016). Discovering Australia's Defence Strategy. Security Challenges, 12(1), 41–52. http://www.jstor.org/stable/26465715
Blaxland, J. (2017). Strategic Balancing Act: Australia's Approach to Managing China, the USA and Regional Security Priorities. Security Challenges, 13(1), 19–40. http://www.jstor.org/stable/26465614
Bohane, B. (2018, 13 June). "South Pacific nation shrugs off worries on China's influence". The New York Times. Accesed from https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/13/world/asia/vanuatu-china-wharf.html
Brant, P. (2016). "Chinese Aid in the Pacific". Lowy Institute for International Policy. www.chineseaidmap.lowyinstitute.org/
Cain, T.S. (2019). "The state of the step-up: Australia's engagement with the Pacific". Accessed from https://www.griffith.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0021/901911/W5-Newton-Cain-Ch4-WEB.pdf
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Australia (2017). "Aid Program Performance Report 2016-17". Accessed from https://www.dfat.gov.au/about-us/publications/Pages/pacific-regional-aid-program-performance-report-2016-17
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Australia (2018). "Aid Program Performance Report 2017-18". Accessed from https://www.dfat.gov.au/about-us/publications/Pages/pacific-regional-aid-program-performance-report-2017-18
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Australia (2019). "Aid Program Performance Report Full APPR 2018-19". Pacific Regional Aid Program Performance 2018-19. Accessed from https://www.dfat.gov.au/publications/development/2019-20-pacific-regional-development-program-progress-report
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Australia (2020). "2019-20 Pacific Regional Development Program Progress Report". Accessed from https://www.dfat.gov.au/publications/development/2019-20-pacific-regional-development-program-progress-report
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Dugis, V. M. (2015). Memahami Peningkatan Kehadiran China di Pasifik Selatan: Perspektif Realisme Stratejik. Global & Strategis, 9(1), 1-18.
Embassy of the People's Republic of China in New Zealand. (2018, 27 July). "China and Niue sign Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation within the Framework of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Initiative". Accessed from http://nz.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/zgynagx/201808/t20180803_885358.htm
Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Republic of Fiji. (2018). "The Chinese Embassy in Fiji Holds a Symposium on Overseas Chinese Affairs". http://fj.china-embassy.gov.cn/chn/sgxw/201812/t20181204_884641.htm
Hanum, N., & Olivia, Y. (2020) Kebijakan Luar Negeri Australia dalam Merespon Dominasi China pada Kerangka Indo-Pasifik tahun 2013-2018. Jurnal Online Mahasiswa (JOM) Bidang Ilmu Sosial dan Ilmu Politik, 7(1), 1-14.
Harding, B. & Pohle, C. (2022). "China’s Search for a Permanent Military Presence in the Pacific Islands China Has Quietly Sought a Military Outpost in the Pacific Islands”. United States Institute of Peace. Accessed from https://www.usip.org/publications/2022/07/chinas-search-permanent-military-presence-pacific-islands#:~:text=China%20Has%20Quietly%20Sought%20a,region%20are%20also%20inherently%20strategic.
Hariri, S. N. (2020). Persaingan China-Australia Dalam Perebutan Pengaruh Di Kawasan Pasifik. Jurnal Asia Pacific Studies, 4(1), 33–45. https://doi.org/10.33541/japs.v4i1.1640
IMF. (2023, April). “World Economic Outlook database”. International Monetary Fund. Accessed from https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2023/April/weo-report
Lim, D. J., & Ferguson, V. A. (2018). "Power in Australian foreign policy". Australian Journal of International Affairs, 72(4), 306–313. https://doi.org/10.1080/10357718.2018.1484072
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China (2018, 1 March). “Xi Jinping Holds Talks with King Tupou VI of Tonga The Two Heads of State Agree to Push China-Tonga Strategic Partnership for New and Greater Development”. Accessed from https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/gjhdq_665435/2797_665439/3427_664910/3429_664914/201803/t20180305_587342.html
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China (2018, 19 September). “Chinese premier eyes closer friendship with Samoa”. Accessed from https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/gjhdq_665435/2797_665439/3422_664900/3424_664904/201809/t20180920_587281.html
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China (2015, 28 March). “Vision and Actions on Jointly Building Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road”. Accessed from www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/topics_665678/2015zt/xjpcxbayzlt2015nnh/201503/t20150328_705553.html
Moleong, L.J. (2002). Metodologi Penelitian Kualitatif. Bandung: PT. Remaja Rosdakarya Bandung
Pacific Islands Report (2017, 28 March). “Pacific Islands Forum Welcomes China’s Plan for ‘Maritime Silk Road.” Accessed from www.pireport.org/articles/2017/03/28/pacific-islands-forum-welcomes-chinas-plan-maritime-silk-road
Perwita, A.A.B. and Yani, Y.M. (2017). Pengantar Ilmu Hubungan Internasional. Bandung: PT Remaja Rosdakarya
Radio New Zealand (2018, 9 November). “Cook Islands to Join China’s Belt and Road”. Accessed from www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/375548/cook-islands-to-join-china-s-belt-and-road
Searight, A. (2020). “Why Did China Target Australia? Australia’ s Strategic Value and Domestic Vulnerabilities”. In Countering China’s Influence Activities: Lessons from Australia (pp. 31–33). Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). http://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep25685.7
Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee (2005). “Opportunities and Challenges: Australia’s Relationship with China”. Commonwealth of Australia. Accessed from www.aph.gov.au/ParliamentaryBusiness/Committees/Senate/Foreign_Affairs_Defence_and_Trade/Completed_inquiries/2004-07/china/report01/index
Shibuya, E. (2004). "The Problems and Potential of the Pacific Island Forum". The Asia-Pacific: A region in transition. Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies https://dkiapcss.edu/wp-content/uploads/2010/PDFs/Edited%20Volumes/RegionalFinal%20chapters/Chapter7Shibuya.pdf
Shugart, T. (2021, 9 August). “Australia and the Growing Reach of China’s Military”. Lowy Institute. Accessed from https://www.lowyinstitute.org/publications/australia-growing-reach-china-s-military
Sora, M. (2023, 23 May). “Diplomacy must lead Australia’s efforts in the Pacific, and adequate funding is crucial”. Lowy Institute. Accessed from https://www.lowyinstitute.org/publications/diplomacy-must-lead-australia-s-efforts-pacific-adequate-funding-crucial
Tsang, S. and Olivia Cheung (2022), "Has Xi Jinping Made China's Political System More Resilient and Enduring?" Third World Quarterly 43, no. 1: pp. 225–43, doi:10.1080/01436597.2021.2000857.
West, F. J. and Foster, S. (2023, August 28). “Pacific Islands.” Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/Pacific-Islands
Willmott, B. (2007). Varieties of Chinese Experience in the Pacific. In P. D'Arcy (ed.), Chinese in the Pacific: Where to Now? Centre for the Study of the Chinese Southern Diaspora Occasional Paper 1, 35–42. Canberra: CSCSD, Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, ANU.
Xinhua (2018, 30 October). “China, Fiji vow to further step up all-round practical cooperation”. Xinhua Net. Accessed from
Zhang, D. (2020). China in the Pacific and Traditional Powers’ New Pacific Policies. Security Challenges, 16(1), 78-93.
Published
2023-11-30
How to Cite
WULANDARI, Meinita Hasya Eka; SARAGIH, Hendra Maujana.
Australia’s Pacific Step-Up Foreign Policy as a Response to the Increase of China’s Influence in the Pacific.
Insignia: Journal of International Relations, [S.l.], v. 10, n. 2, p. 228-256, nov. 2023.
ISSN 2597-9868.
Available at: <http://jos.unsoed.ac.id/index.php/insignia/article/view/9246>. Date accessed: 27 apr. 2024.
doi: https://doi.org/10.20884/1.ins.2023.10.2.9246.
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Articles
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