Address to the Australia-Korea Leadership Forum, Seoul
Thursday, 05 November 2009
Australia-Korea Security Cooperation
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Over the past week I have had the opportunity to take part in high level meetings in Tokyo, Beijing and Seoul. While a range of topics were discussed, it has given me a contemporary perspective for our discussions today.
Australia and South Korea are considered global middle powers. We are remarkably similar in size in terms of our economies, with Australia’s GDP the 14th largest in the world and South Korea’s the 15th largest.
Australia is considered strategically important because of its close proximity to Asia and its rich resource base, which provides a significant share of the resource and energy needs of the region.
South Korea is considered strategically important because of its status as one of the most technologically developed nations on earth as well as its geographical location in East Asia and its relationship to North Korea.
For both Australia and South Korea, our overall security issues are inevitably dominated by our mutual ally and the world’s only super power, the United States, the predominant global economic and military force.
It has been said that for the first time in history, one power is the dominant force in all of the world’s oceans. And given the overwhelming superiority of US military forces, obviously that will be the most important alliance for South Korea, particularly in terms of its dealing with North Korea.
The questions for this discussion today are: what can a middle power such as Australia do to support South Korea’s economic and strategic security? And what support does Australia seek from South Korea?
Australia’s security interests are foremost economic.
There is no foreseeable circumstance where Australia is under a security threat in the military sense.
I am not alone in rejecting outright the inference in Australia’s recent Defence White Paper that a conventional military threat to Australia could come from this region.
South Korea however, is by virtue of its geography, in a vastly different situation, located between two rival regional powers in China and Japan.
As recently as last week, the South Korean, Chinese and Japanese leadership have actively pursued trilateral dialogue, identifying areas of cooperation – notably economic – given the three nations account for 75% of East Asian GDP.
But there are evident political, security and territorial differences.
And of course to the North, there is the ever present threat of a destabilised North Korea.
There are parallels around the world where middle powers provide supplementary support to their friends and allies.
South Korea is a very dear friend of Australia.
Australia was a partner during the Korean War, with more than 18,000 Australian troops involved in the conflict.
Australia has also been a partner in the peace.
Trade between our countries has grown strongly, particularly as South Korea’s economy blossomed in recent decades.
Australia’s economic security is closely tied to the security of the East Asian region.
It is not in Australia’s national interest for there to be conflict in a region occupied by three of our most important trading partners – the East Asian giants of Japan, China and South Korea.
During my discussions in Tokyo, Beijing and Seoul, it is clear that no-one wants military conflict to erupt on the Korean Peninsula. All are committed to regional stability to avoid the humanitarian crisis that would result from a collapse in North Korea.
And while the Six-Party talks are critical to resolving tensions on the Peninsula, reports that the United States has agreed to bilateral discussions with the North Korean leadership are a welcome development.
However, that will inevitably be complicated by the fact that North Korea has announced that it has finalised reprocessing of nuclear fuel, to extract greater amounts of weapons-grade plutonium.
It has already conducted two nuclear weapons test – the second in May this year.
The Statement of Principles signed by North Korea during the Six-Party talks in 2005 and the subsequent action plans should form the basis for the resumption of talks, although North Korea is in denial over that framework.
There is significant conjecture about the succession plans of Kim Jong Il and whether the regime can continue to sustain itself under a new leader, presumably his youngest son.
Given the paucity of information about the regime, it is impossible to predict with any certainty what will happen.
However, the world can only hope that a more reasonable leadership emerges from the dark shadow cast by Kim Jong Il and his father.
Although Australia is active in regional military cooperation, we lack the capability to provide ongoing military support to the region of the nature provided by the United States.
The critical role that Australia can play is to support South Korea in terms of its economic development to enable it to provide for its own defensive capability, and to support South Korea in international forums, such as the United Nations.
Australia can also play a role in sending a clear message to North Korea that South Korea has friends, who will not stand by and allow aggression.
The lesson from other parts of the world is that where nations face a threat from hostile neighbours, if allies consistently stand shoulder to shoulder in support, it sends a powerful message to potential aggressors.
Earlier this year, Australia and South Korea signed a Joint Statement on Enhanced Global and Security Cooperation.
The Joint Statement builds on the significant security cooperation relationship that has developed between our two countries.
We have worked together in such areas as counter-terrorism, disarmament and non-proliferation, defence and disaster response.
It is anticipated that the Joint Statement will provide for greater cooperation in areas such as military intelligence, peacekeeping, military exercises, training and defence industries.
There are close links between our military forces, with regular exercises between our navies, and close and regular contact between our two airforces.
Australia has been a reliable partner to South Korea in international forums, particularly in terms of dealing with North Korea.
We work hard to implement the United Nations Security Council resolutions, including sanctions, against the North Korean regime to send that clear message that its behaviour is unacceptable to the friends of South Korea.
In terms of economic development, Australia’s most important role is to be a reliable supplier of resources and energy, and a trusted trading partner.
Australia and South Korea are currently engaged in negotiations for a free trade agreement, which would take our already strong trade relationship to a new level.
Exports to South Korea have reached record levels, particularly coal and iron ore and with potential for LNG, however there has also been strong growth in service exports such as education.
In 2008, more than 35,000 students from South Korea were enrolled at educational institutions in Australia, ranking South Korea as the third largest source of students to Australia (after China and India).
It is extremely unlikely that Australia would be directly threatened by hostilities on the Korean Peninsula; however it does pose a threat to Australia’s economic security.
While North Korea is unlikely to have the capability to threaten shipping lanes to our major commodity destinations in Japan, South Korea and China, regional instability would inevitably have an impact.
Thus, Australia has a clear economic and strategic interest in helping find a peaceful resolution to the North Korean problem.
There can be no doubting, however, the strength of our relationship with South Korea and the enduring friendship we have with the people of South Korea.
