Dear friends, an excellent piece has been published by Professor Hugh White in the Lowy Interpreter that highlights a contradiction in our federal governments foreign policy.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong says our government wants a multipolar Asian order which implies America accommodate China as co-partner in maintaining regional order.

But at the same time, her governments AUKUS announcements assert that Australia supports US military policy in Asia (which is to maintain a unipolar order led by America).

When this contradiction is brought to Wongs attention, she says she rejects stark simple choices, black and white.

But whether Australia supports a US led unipolar Asian order to stop Chinas rise or a multipolar one that seeks a regional power balance between the USA and China is the key issue for our foreign policy.

If we want to box in China by joining Americas military quest to do so we could get involved in a military confrontation. But if we want America to accommodate Chinas rise, we should tell it so to avoid any confusion about our policy.

You can read the full version of Hugh Whites article below:

https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/hugh-white-choice-facing-penny-wong