澳洲與英國最近簽訂了50年的軍事合作條約, 在奧庫斯合作的基礎上,英國及澳洲合作建造維持亞太區域和平的核子驅動潛艇。奧庫斯合作由澳洲出資, 美國提供技術與英國協助建造, 這一次澳英兩國簽訂50年合作條約, 向美國表明澳英兩國堅持奧庫斯合作的決心。

對澳洲來說, 奧庫斯是國家安全的保障, 是國防計劃重要的一環;對英國來說, 這是一個龐大的軍事工業發展計劃, 澳洲也會在其中有發展本土軍事工業一部份。可以說, 這確實是一個澳英兩國雙羸的方案。不過,問題是美國特朗普政府正在檢討奧庫斯計劃, 結果還未公佈, 可以說美國仍有可能退出奧庫斯。要是出現這情況, 澳英合作會否出現變數, 其實還未可知。

在世界形勢變化莫測, 科技、經濟、社會變化急速的今天, 兩個國家的50年合作, 確實是空洞無比的承諾。國與國的關係, 會隨著領導人的轉變及其它因素而改變。澳洲原是大英帝國的殖民地, 在過去200多年來, 確實與英國維持緊密的關係。不過自二次大戰後, 澳英關係曾有一段時間變得疏離, 澳洲轉而與美國有較多的軍事合作。但今天美國走向孤立主義, 而英國又脫離歐盟, 令到澳洲及英國, 重新再發展關係並加強合作, 這也是出乎意料之外。

從地理位置來說, 澳洲靠近亞洲, 但位處於最南方, 因此與亞洲多國發生衝突機會較小。若然澳洲維持較強的海軍及能加強防守的高科技軍備, 國家維持相對安全是不難的事。與英國合作, 重新建立國防工業, 也是一個適合澳洲的策略。

現時澳洲人相信澳洲國家安全威脅並不是來自印尼等鄰近國家, 而是要在亞太地區與美國爭奪霸權的中國。不過這是不是正確或是合宜的判斷, 相信澳洲領導人要對中國有更深入的認識及接觸, 才能作出。

是時候澳洲政府要鼓勵國民擴闊對亞洲國家的認識, 我相信從在澳洲的亞裔社區開始, 應該是第一步吧。澳洲社會要重新定位, 自己不只是有西方社會根源, 而實際上我們也是亞洲相連的一部份。

周偉文, 社長

Australians Need to Better Understand Asia

Australia and the United Kingdom recently signed a 50-year military cooperation treaty. Building on the AUKUS partnership, the UK and Australia will collaborate on constructing nuclear-powered submarines aimed at maintaining peace in the Asia-Pacific region. Under AUKUS, Australia provides funding, the United States supplies the technology, and the UK assists with construction. This new 50-year bilateral agreement between Australia and the UK signals to the US both countries’ commitment to upholding the AUKUS alliance. 

For Australia, AUKUS is a safeguard for national security and a vital part of its defense strategy. For the UK, it represents a major opportunity for military-industrial development, and Australia will also host part of that military industry domestically. It can be said that this is indeed a win-win arrangement. However, there’s a complication: the Trump-led U.S. administration is currently re-evaluating the AUKUS plan, and the outcome has yet to be announced. It is still possible that the U.S. could withdraw from AUKUS. If that happens, it remains uncertain how it might impact the Australia–UK cooperation. 

In today’s rapidly changing world — with unpredictable global dynamics and fast-paced developments in technology, the economy, and society — a 50-year agreement between two nations may not mean much. Relationships between countries often shift with changes in leadership and other factors. Australia was originally a colony of the British Empire, and for over 200 years, it has maintained close ties with Britain. However, after World War II, there was a period when relations between the two became more distant, and Australia developed stronger military ties with the United States. But now, as the U.S. adopts a more isolationist stance and the UK has left the European Union, Australia and the UK are once again strengthening their relationship — an outcome few might have predicted. 

Geographically, Australia is close to Asia but lies in the far south, so the chances of direct conflict with most Asian countries are relatively low. If Australia maintains a relatively strong navy and strengthens its defensive capabilities with advanced technology, national security should not be too difficult to uphold. Rebuilding a domestic defence industry in cooperation with the UK is also a strategy well-suited to Australia. 

At present, many Australians believe the greatest threat to national security does not come from neighbouring countries like Indonesia, but from China, which is seen as contending with the U.S. for dominance in the Asia-Pacific region. Whether this perception is accurate or appropriate is something Australia’s leaders must evaluate through deeper understanding and engagement with China. 

It is time for the Australian government to encourage our citizens to broaden their knowledge of Asian countries, starting with the Asian communities already living in Australia. This should be the first step. Australian society needs to reposition itself — not just as a society with Western roots, but also as a part of the broader Asian region. 

Mr. Raymond Chow, Publisher