In the essays:
Anwar, Dewi
Fortuna. (2018). Indonesia’s vision of regional order in East Asia and U.S -
China rivalry: continuity and change. Asia
Policy, 13(2), 57- 63.
This essay
highlights the positive outlook and diplomatic efforts of Indonesia to bring
order to the region of Southeast Asia. The essay notes that following the
independent until 1966, Indonesia had a sense of threat from Western
neo-colonialism, confrontation with Malaysia, and good relationship with China.
However, between 1967 and 1990, as one of the founders of ASEAN, Indonesia
had stopped relations with China. Anwar, the author, posits that since then
Indonesia has had a leading role in bringing order to the region through
emphasising on the centrality of ASEAN and rejecting any foreign interventions.
To argue this, the essay outlines some key elements of Indonesia’s foreign
policy.
The author
highlights Indonesia's policy of rejecting external military bases and any
foreign direct intervention in Southeast Asian waters. Indonesia has always been
concerned that foreign assistance should be limited to technical support. Anwar
asserts that Indonesia had urged on the other countries of the region to assume
the primary responsibility for order in Southeast Asia without external
intervention. The essay argues that Indonesia has preferred diplomatic solutions
rather than military campaigns to resolve confrontations with Malaysia.
Indonesia has played a leading role in establishing ASEAN, which is an obstacle
to external threats. All these, including Indonesia's effort in regionalism
which is beyond ideological and political differences, developed norms and
principles that protected the region of becoming the battleground of external
powers and turned it into a Zone of Peace. The essay concludes that Indonesia’s
efforts led to an inclusive structure consisting of all relevant powers in a
balanced way.
***
Medcalf, Rory.
(2019). Australia and China: Understanding the reality check. Australia Journal of International Affairs.
73(2), 109-118.
In this essay,
Rory Medcalf emphasises the importance of Australia’s new security laws and its
Indo-Pacific foreign policy, which is based on security-oriented foreign
investment. By recounting the causes and consequences of a reality check, the
author rejects seven myths in the discourse of Australia-China relations, and
outlines Australia's necessities in order to rebalance bilateral relations with
China, which is as follows:
The Australian
Government should reassure China that Australia seeks a relationship of mutual
respect. Medcalf affirms that potential tension will exist for the future, however,
the author highlights the importance of the modulation that had previously
expressed by ex-Prime Minister Turnbull but rejects any retreat from national
security gains. Secondly, Medcalf suggests a close relationship with the Chinese
diaspora in Australia to assure that legislation will have no other effect
than protection. Thirdly, an inclusive consultative mechanism consisting of
business CEOs and the leaders of state and territory governments is advised.
The author states that Australia has to legislate against foreign political
donations and to stoop assisting China to achieve emerging technologies. For an
effective reaction, Australia should advise its American ally on moderating
public debates. In the end, Medcalf once again quotes the ex-Prime Minister in
which he said the relationship with China is way more important than to be failed
with ambiguity.