Australia needed allies due to the changing situations in a global context. Australia traditionally had connections with Britain in terms of trade, defence, aid and strategical ties. However, this all changed due to circumstances such as defence, economy and trade. This led to concerns of economic prosperity, defence and remaining a Western country. As a result, Australia was forced to form allies when these situations arise. Australia has ties with the United States in relation to defence, with China in relation to trade and economically and with Japan in terms of defence, trade and strategy. The following essay will make comparisons between Australia and the countries of China, Japan and the United States. Furthermore, this essay will justify …show more content…
At the time of the war Australia looked up to Britain for supplies as well as military support to ensure security of the country as it was relatively new and wanted to cement its position as a western country. However due to geographical distance Britain was not able to provide much support therefore forcing Australia to look for allies. The ANZUS treaty was signed in the year 1951 between Australia, New Zealand and the United States. There was also a separate agreement between Australia and the United States for military assistance. Today the alliance between Australia and the US “is arguably in its best shape ever” (Taylor, 2016 pg. 75). In 2011 while presenting a speech in front of the US Congress Julia Gillard perceived “America had in Australia an ally for all the years to come” (Taylor, 2016 pg. 75). This highlights the fact both countries have a strong friendship since the second world war. In saying this however in any alliance challenges do arise and ANZUS is no different (Taylor, 2016 pg. 75). ANZUS faces numerous challenges including the rise of other countries such as China and Indonesia, the escalation of security affairs between Australia and Japan, the divide between Australian public and various leading opinions on ANZUS and the changing nature of what America expects from …show more content…
Due to the strong assertion and aggression of China recently relating to issues with the South China Sea. Japan and Australia have formed over recent years’ close relations in areas such as defence and strategical ties. In July of 2014 Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbot and Japanese’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe raised both countries bilateral arrangements to one of “special strategic relationship” (Schreer, 2016 pg. 37). Both countries agreed to strengthen their technological knowledge for defence purposes an example is the submarine space (Schreer, 2016 pg. 37). Tony Abbot has gone so far as to say “Australia is a strong ally of Japan” (Schreer, 2016 pg. 37) which creates a tense situation between the Australian and US relationship. Due to Australia and Japan tactical dealings coming closer can conflict with Australia’s and China association thus being detrimental (Schreer, 2016 pg. 37). Hugh White questioned whether Australia and Japan intimate defence cooperation was in Australia’s best interests (Schreer, 2016 pg. 38). This development will cause friction between the USA and Japan with China on the other (Schreer, 2016 pg. 38). Despite Abbot individual preference for Japan to produce Australia’s submarines for the Submarine Program in early 2015
“Australia’s involvement in the Second World War created a sense of cohesion rather than division”
Australia entered the war in 1939 and it became at their doorstep on the 19th February 1942, Nazi Germany and Japan were major enemies to Australia during the war. Australia’s foreign policy and changing alliance during 1942 impacted our national identity because Australia developed a new relationship with America, while it weakened the strong connection with Britain, which demonstrates that Australia was starting to become its own independent country. At the beginning of war, Australia had a strong relationship and alliance with Britain, making Britain their leaders when entering the war. Secondly, as the war progressed Australia began to look to America as an opportunity for protection from the Japanese, while Britain was fighting their own
The Second World War was a massive event that left the whole world shocked and saddened of the outcomes. World War 2 was known mostly because of who ruled, Adolf Hitler was the leader of the Nazis. The Nazis where a German army who terrorized Europe and the world with the in humane treatment of people and mostly the treatment of the Jews. Australia’s involvement in ww2 will be the main focus of this essay. Australia lost over 30 000 people who became in prisoned by the Nazis. To follow on with the hypothesis of Australia’s involvement and contributions to WW2 was significant due to their alliances with Great Britain and the USA largely affect Australia even to this day, I will be discussing this through the rest of the essay.
Australia took part in the ANZUS treaty because they were a really small country at the time and still is. They felt threatened by communism spreading through Asia and wanted to prevent it from reaching Australia. Australia could not do this on their own and therefore looked for support from a bigger nation. This was a problem because before the WWII Australia had always relied on Britain but that had changed after Japan’s annulation of Britain in Singapore during the war. Now Australia needed someone new and with the threat of communism they looked towards America.
Since the signing of the 1951 peace treaty between Australia and Japan, the two countries have rapidly built a productive relationship. Many factors and events have contributed to the development of this partnership. The ANZUS treaty was the turning point in the Austral-Japanese relationship. It assured Australia protection against Japan and provided security in the Asia-Pacific region. Trade and cultural exchange also played a significant role in shaping Australia's relationship with Japan. Growth of trade was a contributor to the sense of a mutual interest between the two countries. The cultural exchange often helped to recognise and accept the differences between Australia and Japan.
These had the effect of Australia feeling vulnerable and lonely, and all the traditional beliefs of the mother country, Britain, coming to Australia’s aid in time of need vanished and with the reaction of Britain towards Australia, Australian Government had to accept the fact that they were only expendable part of the British Empire. Australia, led by the Curtin Government at the time, at last realized the limits of British powers, yet desperate in need of allies and protectors, looked up to the United States as the only support to assist Australia. This realization made a great impact in the changes of the relationships between Britain and Australia. United States did come to rescue Australia in 1942 but the motive was for its self interest because Australia was the best place from which the Americans could apply its counter offenses against the Japanese, and when General MacArthur arrived in Australia he was greatly welcomed by the Australia government, seeing as they didn’t have much choice other than follow US military strategies due to the fall of British power.
In the twentieth century after World War 2 the world was threatened by the takeover of communist that had begun to consume the globe. The Australian government identified that the fear ideology communism will take over the country if no actions were taken to stand against and stop it. The Australian government provided support and participated in several military conflicts during the Cold War to reduce the threat of communist around the world. However, the longest of Australia’s military engagement was the Vietnam War from 1965 to 1975. Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War was mainly centred on its fear of the ‘Domino Theory’, and its relations with the U.S through the Foreign policy which involved the ‘Forward Defence’ policy. The
The US-Australian alliance requires some explanation. At its basis, it pertains to the ANZUS treaty signed between Australia, New Zealand, and the
Australia’s presence in the ANZUS and SEATO alliances has been very important in our past. The ANZUS agreement which involved Australia, New Zealand and The United States said that they would “*come to one another’s aid in the event of an attack*” (Retro Active 2 p166 paragraph 1). This was formed in 1951. The SEATO alliance (South-East Asia Collective Defense Treaty), which was the one our involvement in Vietnam was based around involved Australia, Britain, United States, France and New Zealand. They all agreed that they would help protect Laos, Cambodia,
Another major aspect this limb deals with is that of Australia’s relationship with the United Nations and other major international organisations .
In 1945, after World War II had finished, Australia finally felt at peace – that was until Communism began to have an effect on the entire world. Australia had a lot to fear, with the threat likely to infiltrate the country both domestically (an established Communist Party) and internationally (a geographical location close to countries that had already fallen victim to communism, such as China and Korea). Australia responded to both of these threats in a way that caused a lot of political controversy and has created bonds with other parts of the world that are still activated today.
Another prospect is Australia’s mineral resources. Australia is predicted to be holding much of iron ore, coal etc. This means that we are on top of vast resources that can be sold to other countries. Japan would benefit as it purchases a large amount of our coal and iron ore. This advantage could also be used to lever a FTA with the Japanese. The infinite capabilities of Japanese technology would allow Australia to keep up with the world in many areas. Of course, most of these are technologically related.
This essay analyses the Australian-China bilateral relationship since 1945 and in particular its political significance to Australia. Many global factors have influenced this relationship, including the advent of the Cold War, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the collapse of the Soviet bloc European nations. In addition, internal political changes in Australia and China have both affected and been affected by the global changes. It will be analysed that Australia’s bilateral relationship with China has always had a sharp political edge but that approaching the new millenium economics and trade considerations are shaping Australias and for that matter Chinese politics.
The U.S. and Australian alliance share an interest in maintaining the peace and stability in the Asian- Pacific
Australian-Indonesian relations are the foreign relations between the two countries, whether economically, politically, legally or socially. Australian-Indonesian relations involve an interaction in foreign policies between the two nations (Wolfsohn, 1951, p. 68). As long as Indonesia is Australia 's closest and largest neighbor, they are bound to have great international relations. These relations began as early as the 17th century and had only become enhanced with time (Daly, 2003, p. 397). The relationship has been defined by a conjoint growth trade of up to $14 between the years 2011-2012 which reports an increase from the previous economic year (Mark, 2012, p.402). These countries are members of various trade deals such as the ASEAN Regional Forum in addition to having close ties with education, defense, and leadership. Australia 's relationship with Indonesia is crucial, and lack of such could severely bruise the economy, and hence they need to keep united by ensuring the use of widespread media with beneficial input. Australia interacts with Indonesia in a way such as sporting activity, tourism, education, economic policies, youth exchange programs, cultures and above all their diplomacy (Okamoto, 2010, p.241).