Doubts over Australia's Asian role

Doubts over Australia's Asian role

Despite assurances from Australian Prime Minister-elect John
Howard that he will continue the country's business push into
Asia, Saturday's election result represents a mystery package for
developing countries of the region, Thailand included.

Mr. Howard's conservative coalition clobbered the ruling Labor
Party which is likely to lose 33 seats in the 148-seat House of
Representatives.

"It's just a fact of life that there is an immediacy and
there's an opportunity about our relations with our region," Mr.
Howard told a press conference yesterday. "I intend to maintain
the momentum begun long ago by prime ministers on both sides of
the political fence."

The statement was consistent with promises made before the
election. But it is not so consistent with a history of
statements made during his Liberal Party's 13 years in
opposition.

These include Mr. Howard's own controversial remarks in the
1980s about Asian immigration to Australia, for which he has
since apologized.

He has also criticized Mr. Keating's emphatic push into Asia,
but now claims his past will not harm dealings in Asia and
expects good relations with neighboring leaders.

It is ironic that a major reason for Mr. Howard's win was that
he was keen not to make mistakes and promised to continue many of
the policies of the previous government, unlike predecessor John
Hewson who made a muff of the 1992 election by promising radical
changes.

But it must be said that former Prime Minister Paul Keating
was more sympathetic to Asia and considered APEC of utmost
importance.

Foreign Minister-designate Alexander Downer has discarded
Australia's aim under Mr. Keating to become a part of Asia but
said stronger ties with Malaysia were a high priority.

Mr. Howard will tread carefully, but unless he has been
sheltered through too many years in opposition, he must realize
the critical importance of the emerging economic dynamos of
Southeast Asia, particularly as other regions become more reliant
on trade blocs under the changing face of globalization.

It may take time before this region is given the same amount
of priority as it was under Mr. Keating and former Foreign
Minister Gareth Evans.

But for Australia's sake, it would be unwise to waste too much
time to realize where its future prosperity lies.

If time is allowed to lapse, others will seize the
opportunities and Australia will be the only loser.

-- The Bangkok Post