Australia's defense white paper, "Defending Australia in the Asia-Pacific Century: Force 2030," has been stirring up controversy since its release earlier this week. At the heart of the controversy is a proposed $72 billion expansion of the military over the next 20 years, prompted in part by the potential threats posed by a rising India - and especially a rising China. Included in the upgrades is the purchase of 100 F-35 fighter jets, hunter-killer submarines, Tiger helicopters, armored vehicles, and significant investments in cyber and electronic warfare technologies. With China and India likewise seeking to expand their capabilities, one can't help but wonder whether we may be witnessing a new arms race underway in the Pacific.
Australia is seemingly also jumping on the Africa bandwagon, and has been actively seeking to improve relations with African countries and expand its influence across the continent. Historically, Africa has not been a major foreign policy issue on Australia's agenda, but the tide appears to be turning:
Since early 2008, the Rudd government has signaled its intention to change direction on Africa and pursue a much stronger engagement strategy. The elevation of African issues in foreign and defence policies appears to be based partly on a judgment about shifting strategic priorities among the major powers.
The Australian government believes that Africa is drawing closer to the centre of international security politics. For this reason, a policy of benign neglect towards a quarter of the world’s countries is no longer sufficient to meet Australia’s long-term national interests.
This judgment is reinforced by the actions of several major players in African affairs, including China, the USA and the European Union.
I'd venture to guess that the Australian concern is less with the U.S. or Europe, otherwise the government would have pushed for such a policy of engagement quite a while ago - well back in the 1960s and 70s if we really want to exaggerate the point. Rather, the Australians appear to be highly cognizant of the reality of a quickly rising China - both in their own backyard and indeed globally - and rightfully want to protect their national interests and perhaps thwart China's rapidly expanding geopolitical influence in any way they can (enter Africa). [Sidenote: for an interesting read on China's international intentions, see yesterday's piece in the China Post written in response to Australia's defense paper].
Because Australia has little history of bilateral cooperation with African states, my guess is that any sort of diplomatic ties will evolve only gradually. Nevertheless, this shift in policy presents a curious opportunity for African policymakers to harness viable strategies and reap the benefits of what appears to be a multifaceted scramble for their continent. The huff and puff surrounding Australia's defense paper, too, is a curious example of just how rapidly China is assuming a prominent role on the international stage, and how worrying this is to those in Beijing's own backyard, and beyond.