Australia’s Asia Pacific Relations

1. Australia’s Asia Pacific Relations Historical Overview 1945-1975

2. ANZUS Treaty 1951 • Adefence agreement signed in 1951 by Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. Australia and New Zealand asked for the treaty making it clear that an attack on any of the three signatory countries would be considered an attack upon all. • This is still a major part of Australian foreign policy and supported by all the major political parties although not supported by all the population

4. Korean War 1950-53 • At the end of the Second World War, the Korean peninsula was divided on the 38th parallel by the United States and the Soviet Union with two hostile armies along the border. In June 1950 North Korean army crossed into the southern zone and advanced towards the capital, Seoul. The US offered air and sea support to South Korea, and the United Nations Security Council asked its members to assist in repelling the North Korean attack. Twenty-one nations, including Australia, responded by providing troops, ships, aircraft and medical teams. When the Australians arrived the North Korean advance had been halted and their army was in retreat. They were pursued into N Korea and the Chinese army entered the war. The war became a stalemate and 2 years of negotiations began. The UN and North Korean leaderships signed a cease fire agreement on 27 July 1953. This agreement technically brought the war to an end, but a state of suspended hostilities continues to exist between North and South Korea, and the situation remains unresolved and is a major cause of tension in the North Asian region.

5. Korea is still divided with totally different political and economic systems

6. Korean War Memorial Canberra

7. Australia has close political and economic relations with South Korea

8. The Colombo Plan • A result of Commonwealth Conference of Foreign Ministers, held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in Jan 1950. It involved bi-lateral arrangements for foreign aid and technical assistance for economic development of the Asian - Pacific region. One of the major direct links to Australia was the significant number of Asian students that came to Australia to study at university. These students were often the first Asians that many Australians met. In the 1950’s and1960’s any of these Asian students who wanted to migrate to Australia found it was impossible because of the White Australia Policy. This created resentment among potential leaders in many south and south-east Asian societies, especially when they saw poorly educated migrants from southern Europe being accepted.

9. Colombo Plan students in Australia 1950’s to 1970’s

10. Malayan Emergency 1950 – 1960 • As a result of the murder of European estate managers and the assassination of the British High Commissioner by guerrillas of the Malayan Communist Party (MCP), the British resolved to destroy the communists. Australia was involved as an ally of the UK. Australia's involvement began in 1950 and continued until 1959. 39 Australians were killed.

12. Indonesian Confrontation, 1963–66 • Between 1962 and 1966 Indonesia and Malaysia fought a small, undeclared war which came to involve troops from Australia and Britain. Australian units fought under British command. Negotiations ended the conflict in August 1966. 23 Australians were killed. Relations between Australia and Indonesia were very poor at this time and have had many ups and downs since.

13. A cartoon, at the time, suggesting we should stay out of this conflict

14. Vietnam War 1962–72 • Australia supported the US and South Vietnam in the early 1960s to stem the spread of communism in Asia. Initially Australia sent 30 military advisers in July 1962, but by 1972 50,000 Australians had served in Vietnam; 520 died as a result of the war and almost 2,400 were wounded.

15. Anti Vietnam War and anti conscription protests Anti-war protests which began in the late 1960’s continued to grow in Australia in the early 70’s. Opposition to conscription mounted, some of the protests grew violent. The Vietnam War was the cause of the greatest social and political dissent in Australia since the conscription referendums of the First World War.

16. Social change continues after the end of the War A change of government in late 1972 brought the last Australian troops home. Many draft resisters, conscientious objectors, and protesters were fined or gaoled, while soldiers met a hostile reception on their return home and the war memorial in Canberra was not built until 1992.

17. Vietnamese Refugees • In early 1975 the fall of Saigon led to a massive refugee movement. A few arrived in Darwin by boat and many tens of thousands came to Australia as through resettlement by the UNHCR. The Vietnamese refugees were the first large group of Asians to come to Australia since the gold rushes and changed the way many Australians saw Asians.

18. The Indonesian takeover of East Timor 1975 • East Timor declared itself independent from Portugal in November 1975 and was invaded and occupied by Indonesian forces. Resistance over the next two decades led to an estimated 200,000 deaths. The Australian Government did not actively intervene at the time but did accept refugees from East Timor, who formed the nucleus of an overseas resistance movement providing economic and political support to the fighters in East Timor. There was much criticism in Australia about the lack of action against Indonesia.

19. The independence of Papua New Guinea 1975 • From 1949 Australia administered Papua and New Guinea under the trusteeship system of the UN. From1951slow movements were made towards self government and eventually in1972 elections ledto the formation of a ministry headed by Chief Minister Michael Somare, who lead the country to independence in September 1975. The 1977 national elections confirmed Michael Somare as Prime Minister. Michael Somare became Prime Minister again in recent years as the elder statesman who could hold the fighting factions in PNG together. PNG has remained largely economically dependent on Australian aid and problems of corruption and poor governance have led to unstable government, attempted military coups and limited economic development.

21. Japanese Australian Trade and Economic Ties • The rapid development of Japan's relations with Australia after the war was based on bilateral trade. In 1957 the Australian Prime Minister visited Japan for the first time. The economic relationship has since expanded to include many political, cultural, tourism and scientific contacts as the economic links continued to grow. Japan and Australia share a common interest in regional stability and prosperity. Whaling is one of the few areas of disagreement between the Japanese and Australian governments.

22. Relations with Japan

23. Recognition of Communist China • Australia was one of the first western countries to officially recognise Communist China in December 1972 when Gough Whitlam visited China. Since that time the economic and political association between Australia and China has matured although there have been periods of stress, especially in 1989. Trade with China has grown enormously. In 1972, the value of our two-way trade was A$113 million. By 2001-02, two-way trade had reached A$19 billion and continues to increase. Investment between the two countries is also constantly growing. The Australian Government sees trade relationships as helping to underpin regional stability and prosperity. In 1972, there were no Chinese students in Australia; now, China is the biggest source of foreign students in Australia. Tourism has also grown since Australia negotiated an Approved Destination status, and China is now a major source of tourists.

24. Australian attitudes to the Asian and Pacific Regions in 1975 • Increasingly dependent on trade with Asia, particularly after UK joins the EU in 1972 • Generally supported decolonisation in both Asia and the Pacific 1950’s to 1970’s; developing new links with emerging countries • Military alliances with both UK and USA in Asia continue leading to both improved and poor relationships depending on the situation • White Australia policy officially ended but mindset changing more slowly • Concern about communism still strong but some questioning about the threat to Australia by end of 1970’s; conciliation and recognition • Accepts refugees from the Vietnam conflict • Richest country in region providing aid to poor neighbours; many not seen as equals at this time • European view/mindset still strong but beginning to change to recognise new political and economic realities