ASIAN CENTURY WHITE PAPER TALKS THE TALK. CAN AUSTRALIA WALK THE WALK? coinfiaintrran Kenneth Chern, Proieslsor of Asian Policy, Swinburne unave;giiy;:x¢;uet;as; l_)ir_ec_togr,_Svvinburne Leadership Institute at Swinbu_rne__University of Technology THE CONVERSATION en Henry’s team has provided a detailed and useful blueprint for future action in the Australia in the sian Century White Paper. But the government will need to ramp up its domestic efforts to improve scientific and cultural literacy, as well as its engagement with China and lndonesia ifAustralia is to maximise its competitiveness in Asia. The White Paper sets five tasks: maintaining a productive and resilient Australian economy; building capabilities; operating in growing Asian markets; building sustainable security; and achieving deeper and broader relationships in Asia. In all these areas, big asks are made of business, NGOS and the Australian people while pledging strong government action and support. This is reasonable. The Australian people as well as their government must commit the resources needed forAustralia to fully embrace the benefi ts of its Asian neighbourhood. But the government needs to improve its own performance in some domestic and international areas to grasp the opportunities highlighted and provide a model of leadership in the Asian Century. Educational challenges On the domestic front, the White Papers authors lament the recent decline in Australian high schoolers’ reading and mathematics performance relative to Asian countries, and the decades-long erosion of Asian language studies. They call for Australia to be ranked as a top—fi ve countryin the world for reading,science and mathematics literacy by 2025, and for all Australian students to be encouraged study an Asian language throughout their schooling. All well and good. But mapped against what the Chief Scientist has warned is a growing “anti—science culture and the avoidance of science and maths courses by Year 11 and 12 students, it is clear that government and educational leaders have their work cut out for them. it is not encouraging that the new secondary school physics curriculum being considered earlierin the yearwas criticised for containing too much “sociology of physics" and not enough equations. The governments lukewarm response to the educational funding recommendations of the Gonski Review are of further concern. The commitment to use new school funding arrang- ements to ensure access to Asian languages is sensible. As is the call for schools, universities, business and the Issues in Society I Volume 350 community to encourage Asian language study. But, as with science study, spruiking demand is a vexed issue, and achieving the needed mindset change among young Australians may prove a challenge to the imagination and persuasive ability ofthe private and public sector alike. Talking to Asia On the foreign front, the white paper sets an initial priority for developing strategies with China, India, Indonesia, Japan, and South Korea as well as maintaining strong alliance ties with the United States. It envisages official and non—offi cial dialogue with partner countries, and specifically supports “China’s participation in the region’s strategic, political and economic development". All this is sensible, and'Australia has good ties with its neighbours, but these ties need to be energised. Given the recent controversies over policies towards Beijing and Washington, it would useful for Canberra to take up the recommendation by Linda lakobson ofthe Lowy Institute and pursue an annual strategic and economic dialogue with Beijing. Such a dialogue would be a valuable forum to convey Australia’s perspectives on its US alliance and other strategic intents, while better discerning China’s own concerns and intentions. The government also needs to take the initiative in its relations with Indonesia. President Yudhoyono terms Australia a “close friend", and tensions arising from the abrupt cut—olfofcattle exports early this year have eased. But Yudhoyono departs ofi ice in 2014, and lndonesia’s commendable decentralisation and economic growth have been accompanied by the decentralisation ofcorruption and a trend toward economic nationalism. Before too much longer, lndonesia’s economy will be larger than Australia’s - and future leaders in Jakarta may be less amenable to Australian interests if no initiative is taken in the near term. The Commonwealth government should jump-start its engagement with private sector organisations with knowledge of lndonesian trade and governance issues, stimulate “second—track" dialogue with lndonesian counterparts on these issues, and organise a long overdue state visit by the prime minister to Jakarta. This should be done well in advance ofYoudhoyono’s retirement. The white paper is a valuable and timely document that will stimulate debate about the dynamic, growing, and crucial region to our north. But to keep faith with its intention to make the most of the Asian Century, the government needs to commit the financial, intellectual, and human resources needed to take a leading role. © 2012 Kenneth Chem. Posted 29 October 2012. The Conversation | http://theconservationedu.au Australia's Engagement with Asia
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ASIAN CENTURY WHITE PAPER TALKS THETALK. CAN AUSTRALIA WALK THE WALK?coinfiaintrran Kenneth Chern, Proieslsor of Asian Policy, Swinburne unave;giiy;:x;uet;as;l_)ir_ec_togr,_Svvinburne Leadership Institute at Swinbu_rne__University of Technology
THE CONVERSATIONen Henrys team has provided a detailed and usefulblueprint for future action in the Australia in the
sian Century White Paper. But the governmentwill need to ramp up its domestic efforts to improvescientific and cultural literacy, as well as its engagementwith China and lndonesia ifAustralia is to maximise itscompetitiveness in Asia.
The White Paper sets five tasks: maintaining aproductive and resilient Australian economy; buildingcapabilities; operating in growing Asian markets;building sustainable security; and achieving deeper andbroader relationships in Asia.
In all these areas, big asks are made of business,NGOS and the Australian people while pledging stronggovernment action and support. This is reasonable.The Australian people as well as their government mustcommit the resources needed forAustralia to fully embracethe benefits of its Asian neighbourhood.
But the government needs to improve its ownperformance in some domestic and international areas tograsp the opportunities highlighted and provide a modelof leadership in the Asian Century.
Educational challengesOn the domestic front, the White Papers authors
lament the recent decline in Australian high schoolersreading and mathematics performance relative to Asiancountries, and the decades-long erosion ofAsian languagestudies. They call for Australia to be ranked as a topfivecountryin the world for reading,science and mathematicsliteracy by 2025, and for all Australian students to beencouraged study an Asian language throughout theirschooling.
All well and good.But mapped against what the Chief Scientist has
warned is a growing antiscience culture and theavoidance of science and maths courses by Year 11 and12 students, it is clear that government and educationalleaders have their work cut out for them.
it is not encouraging that the new secondary schoolphysics curriculum being considered earlierin the yearwascriticised for containing too much sociology of physics"and not enough equations. The governments lukewarmresponse to the educational funding recommendationsof the Gonski Review are of further concern.
The commitment to use new school funding arrang-ements to ensure access to Asian languages is sensible.
As is the call for schools, universities, business and the
Issues in Society I Volume 350
community to encourage Asian language study. But, aswith science study, spruiking demand is a vexed issue,and achieving the needed mindset change among youngAustralians may prove a challenge to the imagination andpersuasive ability ofthe private and public sector alike.
Talking to AsiaOn the foreign front, the white paper sets an initial
priority for developing strategies with China, India,Indonesia, Japan, and South Korea as well as maintainingstrong alliance ties with the United States. It envisagesofficial and nonofficial dialogue with partner countries,and specifically supports Chinas participation in theregions strategic, political and economic development".
All this is sensible, and'Australia has good ties withits neighbours, but these ties need to be energised. Giventhe recent controversies over policies towards Beijing andWashington, it would useful for Canberra to take up therecommendation by Linda lakobson ofthe Lowy Instituteand pursue an annual strategic and economic dialoguewith Beijing. Such a dialogue would be a valuable forumto convey Australias perspectives on its US alliance andother strategic intents, while better discerning Chinasown concerns and intentions.
The government also needs to take the initiative inits relations with Indonesia. President Yudhoyono termsAustralia a close friend", and tensions arising from theabrupt cutolfofcattle exports early this year have eased.But Yudhoyono departs ofiice in 2014, and lndonesiascommendable decentralisation and economic growth havebeen accompanied by the decentralisation ofcorruptionand a trend toward economic nationalism. Before toomuch longer, lndonesias economy will be larger thanAustralias - and future leaders in Jakarta may be lessamenable to Australian interests if no initiative is takenin the near term.
The Commonwealth government should jump-startits engagement with private sector organisations withknowledge of lndonesian trade and governance issues,stimulate secondtrack" dialogue with lndonesiancounterparts on these issues, and organise a long overduestate visit by the prime minister to Jakarta. This shouldbe done well in advance ofYoudhoyonos retirement.
The white paper is a valuable and timely documentthat will stimulate debate about the dynamic, growing,and crucial region to our north. But to keep faith withits intention to make the most of the Asian Century, thegovernment needs to commit the financial, intellectual,and human resources needed to take a leading role.
2012 Kenneth Chem. Posted 29 October 2012.The Conversation | http://theconservationedu.au
Australia's Engagement with Asia
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