Foreign Minister Penny Wong says Australia must step up in Southeast Asia to ensure security

Foreign Minister Penny Wong says Australia must step up and take a greater military, economic and diplomatic role in Southeast Asia to secure the region.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong says Australia must look beyond competition between China and US to stabilise the region. Picture: DFAT

China’s unwavering pursuit of power and influence will never be countered by competition with the US alone, so Australia must step up and take a greater military, economic and diplomatic role in Southeast Asia, Foreign Minister Penny Wong has warned.

Australia is playing catch-up in the region, where investment from China and other wealthy nations has surged ahead in recent years, while increased “great power competition” between the US and China has further destabilised the security situation.

In an exclusive interview on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Jakarta, Ms Wong said the key to Australia’s future peace and security lies beyond China and the US, and instead required stronger ties with “small and middle powers” in Asia driven by economic connections.

“If you want stability, and we do, you have to work to shape your region with other partners,” she said.

Ms Wong said stronger economic ties would create a “sense of common purpose” between Australia and ASEAN nations like Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong says strong ties with Southeast Asia will help Australia continue to stabilise relations with China. Picture: AAP Image/Lukas Coch

This would also have the added benefit of boosting Australia’s resilience should China “continue being China” by using whatever economic means necessary to exert its power.

Ms Wong said Australian businesses and the broader public had felt the direct impact of over-reliance on China in recent years, and were now more attuned to the risks instead of blindly chasing the economic benefits.

She said the resulting improved “understanding” and “informed discussion” in the community meant Australia was more “capable of navigating difficult times”.

“Smart businesses will ensure that they are increasingly diversified,” she said.

“Because in a world where there is contest and unpredictability, diversification is a part of your resilience.”

Chinese President Xi Jingping. Picture: AP

Ms Wong said Australia could not avoid the “difficult strategic circumstances” created by the ongoing competition between Beijing and Washington, and must take the path that is “most beneficial” to the nation’s security.

“We need to use all elements of our national power to try and contribute to a region that’s peaceful, stable and secure, in which sovereignty is respected,” she said.

Ms Wong said diplomatic and military power should “work together” with economic efforts so Australia could create a region that assured its security and stability.

“I want to see much more economic engagement between Australia and the countries of ASEAN,” she said.

“I want to see Australia to have the benefits of more Australian jobs, more profitable firms and more shared prosperity, as opposed to now where investment is worth less now than in 2014.”

Originally published as Foreign Minister Penny Wong says Australia must step up in Southeast Asia to ensure security