Whilst Australia has openly admitted that Sri Lanka is not of first order priority in the IP (Japan, Indonesia, India and South Korea take the top spots), the nation should utilise this long-standing relationship more strategically.6 This paper seeks to define the role of Australia in the Indo-Pacific region through the four aforementioned pillars: the trade and economy; the environment; education. [...] 10 success for domestic interests; “Australian businesses and their employees can be big winners from the Asian century, with new and expanding opportunities for our miners, manufacturers, farmers and a broad range of service providers”.8 The IP is known to be the future of global trade and plays host to the busiest trade corridor in the world.9 Growing realisation of the potential of new economic. [...] In June of 2019 the controversial and topical Carmichael mine (dubbed ‘Adani’) in northern Queensland was approved for construction by the recently elected Liberal Government.32 This mine has been scrutinised by the public and scientists alike for the role it is likely to play in the degradation of the Great Barrier Reef and other fragile ecosystems in the region.33 Moreover, Australia has pledged. [...] Despite the fact that 97% of Australians are aware of climate change, and 64% of Australia adults rank climate change as the number one threat to the nation’s interests, current efforts to curb global warming are insignificant, to say the least.44 Education and culture From the outset it would appear that Australia excels at educational and cultural exchange in the IP. [...] Transparency, the promotion of democracy, open lines of communication and a greater understanding of the security environment are just some of the notable benefits of developing a DWP, and if Australia is to mitigate the threat of hard power and military modernisation, promoting defence white papers in the IP would be in the interests of the state.
- Pages
- 68
- Published in
- Sri Lanka
