Japan and Australia should not only cooperate on military development but work together on countering coercion and anti-democratic trends in the Indo-Pacific, according to a report published by the University of Sydney’s United States Studies Centre (USSC).
The report titled “Aligning Values and Interests: Japanese and Australian democracy support in the Pacific and Southeast Asia,” emphasised that efforts to provide aid and infrastructure in the region will fail to counter malign influences without an accompanying push for democratic values.
It explains that although both Australia and Japan have adopted a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) strategy, they have traditionally shown reluctance to directly provide democracy support, promote liberal democratic system values, and aid in democracy initiatives that go beyond elections in the region.
According to USSC non-resident senior fellow Lavina Lee, both countries “have been sensitive to perceptions that they might be attempting to impose Western values on their neighbours rather than respecting their sovereignty and individual choices.”
However, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) continues to increase its influence in the region by supporting authoritarian states, promoting authoritarian values, and providing infrastructure investment and development assistance, further degrading already weak democratic institutions and practices.
Fighting democratic backsliding becomes a greater concern as there is a greater acceptance of Beijing’s preferred norms, interests, and institutions.
As such, Ms. Lee suggests working more effectively—both separately and collaboratively—towards directly supporting democracy as part of Australia and Japan’s FOIP strategy. This would also simultaneously help reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development aims.
Report Recommendations
The report also outlines recommendations for Australia and Japan that would positively influence the state of strategic competition in the region.They include supporting infrastructure investment in Southeast Asia and the Pacific based on Japan’s quality infrastructure principles; engaging in government efforts to challenge Chinese authoritarian narratives; partnering with democratic Southeast Asian partners (Indonesia being the prime suggestion); and enhancing coordination of democracy support activities with other similar democracies such as the U.S., South Korea, and the EU.
“This collection of essays features not just robust analysis of democracy and development in the region, but it also charts a course for greater collaboration between allies and partners,” Mr. Green added.
It also recommends providing a safe space for young pro-democracy activists; supporting capacity building for civil society organisations (CSOs) that are willing and capable of supporting democratisation programs; and providing substantial exchanges between Australian and Japanese parliamentarians and their counterparts.
Earlier, Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and U.S. President Joe Biden announced that their respective countries would be partnering with Australia to create a networked system of air, missile, and defence architecture.
The U.S. and the UK are also discussing potential cooperation with Japan for advanced projects under Pillar II of the AUKUS security pact. This refers to the non-nuclear component of the agreement, primarily involving the exchange of information and technology for defence, space, and more.
