Australian Sea Power Issues and International Relations in Asia--Pacific Region

Abstract

Sea Power theory is not only military theory but also one of the most important geopolitical international relations theories. Since Mahan established the modern sea power theory, its content is becoming more abundant with the change of international situations and the deepening research by academic studies. Although navy is still the core of sea power issues, it not just confined to controlling the ocean and developing military navy power, but refers to the comprehensive issues including international politics, international trade on the sea line, international ocean law, Exclusive Economic Zone, maritime resources, Islands sovereignty, marine ecological environment, sea line, navy diplomacy, maritime defence and its foreign policies. The contemporary sea power issues absolutely closely connected to international relations and diplomacy. First of all, the thesis introduces the establishment and the evolution of the sea power theory, displaying its abundant content.
As a typical maritime country, Australia, its natural maritime geopolitical status and the complicated Asia—Pacific geopolitical circumstance made Australia possess many advantages to develop the sea power and promoted it to consider the maritime defence and navy issues since 1901 when Australian commonwealth was established. Australia implemented the diplomacy according to its geographical and historical cultural tradition elements. Although the process was not smoothly, Australia eventually realized the goals to establish a navy of its own and defend its security and interests in South Pacific region. The “Southeast Pacific Doctrine” sea power diplomacy implemented after the Second World War increasingly made Australia’ dilemma between economic interests and maritime defence relations more prominent.
The thesis also focus on the elaboration about Australia’s different characteristics of sea power relations with the main Asia—Pacific countries and the sea power issues among its foreign diplomacy. Australia as immigration nation and big island continent, its limited domestic market made the two sea power issues—maritime defence and international trade played an essential role in defending its security and developing economic interests. Australia’s ingeniously diplomacy with America, Japan and China made the two goals come to true. In additional, marine resources, Exclusive Economic Zone and ocean environment issues can not avoidably ignored in dealing with the relations with South Pacific islands countries. From the perspective of sea power’s diplomacy function, navy diplomacy also becomes the ties and bridges in promoting international friendship communication.
What I should point out is that this research is also helpful in analyzing the complicated sea power issues that China have to face, which provide theoretical foundation to develop navy power and implement navy diplomacy, struggle against the so called China’s Threat Theory, so as to defend our security and economic interests, realize the “harmonious ocean” and the harmonious international relations.