Defending Australia in the Asia Pacific Century: Force 2030

Defending Australia in the Asia Pacific Century: Force 2030 ( Engl. About: "The defense of Australia in the Pacific-Asian Century: Force 2030") is the title of a defense white paper that the Australian armed forces should give a new strategic direction. After Secretary of Defense Joel Fitzgibbon announced the drafting of the White Paper on February 22, 2008, the Australian government released the document on May 2, 2009. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made a speech on a frigate on Sydney Harbor . It is the first Defense White Paper since 2000 and combines the strategy of a “Fortress Australia” with concern for the development of the People's Republic of China .

The reason for the preparation of the Defense White Paper gave the government, among other things, the changed strategic environment in Australia since 2000, to which the document primarily counts a large number of terrorist attacks, the dispatch of Australian troops to the Middle East and the increase in power of China. In addition, it shows Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's commitment to the armed forces, independent of the previous points. As the Labor Party's top candidate , he had announced an increase in the defense budget several times .

Content

The core requirement of the paper is an annual real increase in the defense budget by three percent by the 2017–18 budget year, then by 2.2 percent by the 2030 budget year. These new resources are primarily intended to go to the Navy , which should be able to go further than so far to operate in a northerly direction. The Navy is to replace its six existing submarines and receive six more. The Anzac class currently in use is to be replaced by eight new frigates, which are specially designed for submarine hunting .

Even the relationship with the United States weights the White Paper new. While the US continues to be viewed as a key ally, it stresses that Australia must be able to defend itself. It also takes a stand against the US missile defense program .

Reactions and aftermath

Internationally and nationally, the reactions turned out to be mixed. While the People's Republic of China viewed Rudd's new defense policy as incompatible with his previous, much more pro-Chinese foreign and security policy, the Indonesian government welcomed the new course. According to General Slamet Heriyanto, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense, the strategy reflects Australia's economic success and is therefore not seen as a provocation. In addition to the two countries, Japan and the United States were also informed about the White Paper by Deputy Secretary of Defense Mike Pezzullo. In Australia itself, opposition leader Malcolm Turnbull criticized that the Rudd administration was unable to fund its project and that an increase in defense spending would prevent the current economic downturn.

The author of the Defense White Paper 2000 contradicted the perception of China as a threat, but advocated the adaptation of Australia to new circumstances.

The Medical Association for the Prevention of War , a major peace organization in Australia, described the document as a "military victory". She criticized the Australian federal government for being ready to increase the funding of the military while at the same time making savings in the country's diplomatic service. In addition, the organization found the recent commitment to disarmament efforts and the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction to be insufficient.

Rudd's government itself implemented the White Paper immediately and increased the defense budget a week later. In total, it has estimated approximately 72 billion Australian dollars (about € 40 billion) in additional defense spending over 20 years.

References

literature

• Defense white paper . Department of Defense, 2009 ISBN 9780642297020

Web links

• Official website of the Defense White Paper (English)
• Lyon, Rod; Davies, Andrew: Assessing the Defense White Paper 2009 by Rod Lyon and Andrew Davies , May 7, 2009
• White, Hugh: The new defense white paper: why we need it and what it needs to do (English)
• N / A: What Australia's 2009 white Paper means for the Navy, Army and Air Force , May 8, 2009
• China threat plays role in focus of Defense White Paper - ABC Interview with Hugh White

Individual evidence

1. ↑ above: Sharpening the koala's claws , in: Economist Online , May 7, 2009. Accessed May 13, 2009.
2. ^ Bryant, Nick: Fortress Australia , in: BBC Online , May 2, 2009. Accessed May 13, 2009.
3. ^ Defending Australia in the Asia Pacific Century: Force 2030 , p. 15.
4. ↑ Murray, Paul: Labor announces national security policy ( Memento of the original from April 5, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , in: The West Australian Online , November 12, 2007. Accessed May 13, 2009. 
5. ↑ Walters, Patrick: Naval boost a bid for regional power ( Memento of the original from April 26, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , in: The Australian , April 25, 2009. Accessed May 14, 2009. 
6. ↑ Grevatt, Jon: Australia Reveals 20-year White Paper , in: Jane's Defense Weekly , Volume 46, Issue 19, May 13, in 2009.
7. ↑ Pearlman, Jonathan; Davies, Anne: Defense white paper gives US a rocket , in: Brisbane Times Online , May 6, 2009. Accessed May 14, 2009.
8. ↑ Garnaut, John: Defense build-up alarms Beijing , in: The Sydney Morning Herald Online , May 1, 2009. Accessed May 13, 2009.
9. ^ Allard, Tom: Review afforded friendly reception in Indonesia , in: Brisbane Times Online , May 2, 2009. Accessed May 13, 2009.
10. ↑ Dodd, Mark: Defense official in global white-paper briefings ( Memento of the original from May 2, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , in: The Australian , April 29, 2009. Accessed May 13, 2009. 
11. ↑ top v .: Rudd defiant amid Defense spending criticism , in: Australian Broadcasting Corporation , May 2, 2009. Accessed May 13, 2009.
12. ↑ above: Australia sees dynamics behind military spend , in: ChannelAsiaNews.com, May 3, 2009. Accessed May 14, 2009.
13. ↑ Medical Association for the Prevention of War: Australia's Defense White Paper a military victory ( Memento of the original from March 2, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. . Press release of May 5, 2009. Accessed: May 14, 2009. 
14. ↑ o. V .: Defense a big winner in 2009 budget  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , in: The Australian , May 12, 2009. Accessed May 14, 2009.  
15. ↑ above: Australia outlines military plans , in: BBC Online , May 2, 2009. Accessed May 14, 2009.