DNAC: China-US Pacific battle fundamental to Australia’s top end

Northern Australia is at the centre of a power struggle between China and the US, meaning some things are “off the table” when trading with the Asian powerhouse. Our do’s and don’ts.

Chinese president Xi Jinping and United States president Donald Trump both have interests in the Pacific region's Island Chain Strategy, with northern Australia considered a linchpin.

A geopolitical tug-of-war between China and the United States is “fundamental” to the development of northern Australia, an academic has told a conference in Cairns.

Northern Australia represented the “centre of gravity” for the global superpowers’ trade and security interests – the Indo-Pacific region and subsequent sea lanes of interest to the powerful nations.

James Cook University’s politics lecturer Dr Anna Hayes told the Developing Northern Australia Conference on Thursday the nation’s top end was both a “bridge and a moat” in times of insecurity, risk and conflict.

Dr Hayes presented to the conference the “Island Chain Strategy”, which first emerged in US foreign policy circles in 1951, and remained a focal point now, proposing that the American power establish multiple bases across the Pacific’s islands.

The Island Chain Strategy was first adopted in US policy circles in 1951 and is still at the forefront of Pacific geopolitical interests. Northern Australia is a central linchpin to the chains.

Dr Hayes presented a graphic which identified three “chains” of islands in a north-south direction, with the north of Australia positioned in the middle.

“This is because dominant presence within those island chains determines which power has control over the Pacific Ocean and its sea lanes,” she said.

“For almost three decades now, we see Beijing expanding its power and influence across the Indo-Pacific to break free from the first and second island chain.

“There is a third island chain and Papua New Guinea and Australia are the linchpins between (those) chains.”

James Cook University senior lecturer in politics and international relations, Dr Anna Hayes.

Dr Hayes said a secure Indo-Pacific meant a secure US, which flowed on to a secure Australia. But if China could break through the first and second island chains, it would allow it to challenge America.

“These factors enable us to get a stronger sense of the need for increased defence upgrades and spending across northern Australia,” she said.

But Dr Hayes questioned the disconnect between policy makers in Canberra and the north of Australia.

“There also appears to be a lack of clarity around exactly what Canberra believes is necessary into the future, and in some instances, the changing rhetoric raises real questions about the seriousness of the government and their depth of commitment to our region, particularly as it has applied to defence.”

Dr Hayes said understanding what was at stake for the north within the Indo-Pacific region was as important as understanding the opportunities – particularly “when it comes to funding sources”.

Dr Hayes said understanding what was at stake for the north within the Indo-Pacific region was as important as understanding the opportunities, particularly “when it comes to funding sources”.

“We do have an ongoing economic relationship with China, and we can continue to engage with them in numerous areas

“But there are some areas that I think are now off the table.

“While it may be a good idea to embrace Chinese foreign direct investment in a coal mine, for example, probably not wise in a rare earth minerals mine or in critical infrastructure or in port development.”

Originally published as DNAC: China-US Pacific battle fundamental to Australia’s top end