Australian Attitude To “Expanding China”

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30144, 30 May 1963, Page 14

Australian Attitude To “Expanding China”

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, May 29. Australia can and will play its part if it ever comes to a trial of strength with an expanding China, said the Australian Minister of External Affairs (Sir Garfield Barwick ) in Wellington tonight.

Speaking on “Australia and her neighbours’’ at Victoria University, he said there was a necessity for the great European Powers to take a real interest in this part of Asia.

“They would indeed be foolish if they were to say in effect, Australia and her neighbour; can look after their own concerns. They have thrown off the colonial relationship. Let us leave them to their own fate,” he said. “I cannot believe that responsible European statesmen would take such a retrograde step.” He said Europe needed the Asian region as much, if not more, than this region needed Europe. Raw materials, markets, peace—were bound up in the common need. "We all need to be able to draw on European skills, European markets and perhaps even European aid for our defence. Because colonial rule is over, this does not justify European statesmen concluding that they can wash their hands of the Asian region.”

be the limit of Chinese aims and ambitions? How soon will she be strong enough to enforce these ambitions? “How soon will she be strong enough to enforce these ambitions by militarypower? How soon will she, in fact, become a nuclear power? “When will she be able to act entirely independently of the Soviet Union and not have to gauge whether or not the Soviet Union would back up any foreign adventure upon which she might embark?” Sir Garfield Barwick said that in visiting 15 countries in the region—from Pakistan to Korea —in the last year he found the same preoccupation with what Communist Shina could and would do. "This is therefore an important aspect of our relationship with our neighbours.

sia as planned, including it* timetable of coming into operation at the end of August this year—notwithetaodmc the expressed opposition of Indonesia and the Philippines. and all that this opposition might import.” he said.

"You will recognise this is an assertion of an Australian interest, notwithstanding the possible effect the assertion might have on the existing friendly relaitaons of Australia with its neighbours It is a good example of what our existence in this part of the world may. from time to time, involve.” He said that while the various steps towards Malaysia were being taken —“and as Malaysia approached a date for reality”—-both the Philippines and Indonesia expressed varying degrees of concern, and at times, disagreement with the turn of events. - ’ Sir Garfield Barwick said that in Manila he had the opportunity of speaking to President Macapagal, of the Philippines, and the Indonesian Foreign Minister (Dr. Subandrio) "I explained Australia s attitude to the formation of Malaysia, our belief that the new federation was in the best interests of the stability of the area, that it had popular support and that we had decided that its creation as planned was an Australian interest. “I emphasised particularly our deep concern at the tension tWat seemed to be building up and that we would want it to ease. ••In my discussions, whether in Manila or elsewhere. I tried to speak as a friend of all three countries and to do what I could to allay ill-based doubts and to calm their suspicions, and indeed to explain the precise proposals. “We have a special relationship with Malaya, as a friend whose development we have tried to help in a great number of ways, as a Commonwealth country, and as a nation in whieh, as I have said, are stationed Australian and New Zealand forces in the Commonwealth strategic reserve." Sir Garfield Barwick said. Changed Structure “The whole political structure of the area to our north has changed—European control and responsibilities have been succeeded by independent national States. These are now nations, it is true, but many of them have a long history stretching back far beyond their colonial days. They are really reemergent nations. “When we think of the new nations of South Asia and South-east Asia, we tend to remember only what has happened since their more recent independence. This is a very shallow conception and, if I might say. potentially a c: use of misunderstanding. “All of the new Asian countries are very conscious of their historical roots, whether of grandeur or of humiliation, and this national awareness inevitably affects their attitude in current affairs.” He said that many of the neighbouring countries hpd developed from revolutionary situations where the role of the individual leader was far greater and the rights of the individual far less than in the democratic system “It is easy to say. "this man talks like Mussolini' or to think of ‘new Munichs - and so on. It does not follow automatically that things said by our neighbours would mean to them in the context of their history and circumstance what they would mean if said in a European context. “Of course, we must heed what they say and not fail to perceive the implications for our own interests and our own future of what is said.”

After speaking about the problems of Malaysia, Indonesia and China, Sir Garfield Barwick said: “These neighbours are important to you. You cannot contemplate with equanimity any threat to Australia from these areas and imagine that the land mass of my country and 1200 miles of sea are significant in the affairs of today. “It is worth remembering that the great Chinese people, numerous and militarily powerful, and if and when they h'ave nuclear capacity, particularly powerful, are expressing views today that show' that they are willing to take risks which perhaps the Russians are not prepared to take.

“They see Australia as a country far away from China but stall in the region They see us having vast natural resources, and what -s more important, a highlydeveloped economy with an industrial complex of growing magnitude and with the capacity to manufacture and maintain the complicated machinery of modern conventional war.”

Indonesian Friendship Referring to Indonesia, Sir Garfield Barwick said Australia had a particular interest in the friendship of that country. “We are very conscious that this great country the fifth largest in the world is our nearest neighbour and indeed a neighbour with whom we now share a common land border in New Guinea. “It was not by chance that Australia found itself involved in the troubled days when Indonesia was negotiating for her independence, and we have sought since that time to help in any way possible in Indonesia’s development to prosperity and peace.” Sir Garfield Barwick said that the problem that had caused Australia most concern in recent months wps the problem of Malaysia. “The Australian Government, after close consideration. decided that it favoured the creation of Malay-

“If Chinese expansion should occur—and we would be foolish to plan our lives on the assumption that it never will —then I am sure that it will be essential for New Zealand that the umbrella which it regards the mainland of Australia to be. is in good shape and that none of its ribs are broken,” he said. Important Part

Sir Garfield Barwick said he thought consciousness of the Chinese threat would play a more and more important part in our thinking in the next 10 years. “We, the Pacific, must face up to the question. What will