Republic may signal closer ties with Asia

It would be an exaggeration to claim that Australia has taken an important step down the road toward republicanism. It would be more accurate to suggest that what happened in Canberra on Friday was the latest in a series of small steps along that road. A constitutional convention voted overwhelmingly in favor of the country becoming a republic.

However, this is not the end of the affair; it is now expected to go to a national referendum. But even if the delegates in Canberra did not have the final say on the matter, the convention has at least brought to a head an issue that has divided Australia for many years. Essentially, the republicans want to distance Australia from Britain and bring the country closer to the East Asian group. The new reality, they believe, is that Australia's future lies principally in the region and with the people of the region. Economic relations are, of course, an important part of that new reality.

Will increased trade encourage cultural empathy? Will East Asians accept Australia as part of the region? Are the cultural differences too great? Australia's assertive, confrontational and adversarial attitudes contrast sharply with the courteous and consensual approach to decisionmaking that is characteristic of East Asia. Are they prepared to admit that Asia may have much to contribute to the new Australia?

-- The Hong Kong Standard