Australia, Malaysia and the problem of confrontation

Abstract

During the mid-1960s Australia became increasingly interested in developments in Southeast Asia and increasingly concerned at the possibility of their adversely affecting Australian security. Indonesia's confrontation of Malaysia contributed significantly to that process and to the passing of the traditional Australian apathy towards foreign affairs in time of peace. Southeast Asia came to be regarded as an area productive of war and conflicts Australia reacted by seeking to become a regional power. The factors which influence and shape the foreign policy of any state are multifarious. To this generalisation Australia provides no exception, although it might be asserted that the relative smallness of Australia's population and the openness of its society assists in the investigation of the Australian political process. A thorough analysis of the formulation of foreign policy requires some investigation of the social milieu within which it is produced. In the case of Australian policy towards Asia this is of particular importance. Reference might be made to the circumstances which produced the 'White Australia' policy,1 to the impact which the Japanese conquest of Southeast Asia and assaults on Australian territory during World War II had on Australian conceptions of her defensive requirements, and to the cultural and ethnic differences between Australia and her northern neighbours. These factors have been influential in Australian foreign policy, especially with respect to her alliances with her 'great and powerful friends'. This work, however, does not pretend to be an extensive examination of Australia's policy towards Southeast Asia nor does it seek to investigate the totality of that policy, except insofar as it is directly related to the subject in hand. It is concerned rather with a particular aspect of that policy during a particular period of time.