Publication

The paper suggests that one of the central challenges for Australian strategic policy for the coming decades will be to make Asian engagement mesh with its alliance commitments and its policy of defence self‑reliance. The author identifies four options for a future Australian strategic engagement in Asia: 1) Order building -a continuation of its traditional approach; 2) Power following - applying Australian predilection for partnering with great and powerful friends to the changing Asian security environment; 3) Power building - helping to build a regional power core in Southeast Asia; 4) Power diffusion - following a policy that attempts to reinforce Asia’s relatively strong anti-coagulant characteristics.