Australia’s Policy On East Timor (1974-2002)

East Timor originally belonged to the colony of Portugal.In 1974,the new Portuguese government allowed the independence of overseas colonies.Various political groups in the East Timor region were established one after another.The larger political organizations include the "Democratic Alliance","Democratic Association" and "Reebok".Each of them put forward its own political ideas.The "NLD" advocates the establishment of a federation between East Timor and Portugal and autonomy under Portuguese rule.The "ADPL" advocates the integration of East Timor with Indonesia.The "Matrix" advocates the independence of East Timor.The Indonesian government(hereinafter referred to as Indonesia)fears that East Timor’s independence will lead to its own West Timor.It is even more worried that East Timor’s independence will become a communist country.Therefore,it sends troops to interfere in the independence of East Timor.In the pursuit of independence in East Timor,Australia has repeatedly adjusted its policy towards East Timor in accordance with its own national interests.It can be roughly divided into three stages: In the first stage(1974-1991),Australia acquiesced to Indonesia’s annexation of East Timor.In the second phase(1991-1997),Australia favored Indonesia’s occupation of East Timor.In the third phase(1997-2002),Australia was transformed from recognizing Indonesia’s sovereignty over East Timor to supporting East Timor’s independence from Indonesia.The factors affecting Australia’s policy towards East Timor can be summarized as follows: In the first phase,ideology and geopolitics played a major role.In the second phase,economic interests play a major role.In the third stage,the positioning of medium powers(South-West Pacificism)and cultural factors(clashes of civilizations)played a major role.At the same time,they were affected by the influence of the United States and the pressure of international and domestic public opinion.Australia’s policy on East Timor has had a major impact.First of all,the impact on East Timor.In the first and second stages,Australia’s tacit approval of Indonesia’s annexation of East Timor indirectly led to the annexation of East Timor by Indonesia.Indonesia’s annexation of East Timor interrupted the decolonization process in East Timor,and the East Timorese people people had to undertake a second decolonization campaign.In the third phase,East Timor,with the help of Australia,got rid of Indonesia’s colonial rule and gained national independence.In addition,Australia has also helped East Timor to build its country.East Timor has made significant achievements in national construction with the help of Australia.Second,the impact of Australia’s East Timorese policy on Indonesia.In the first and second stages,Australia’s appeasement policy towards Indonesia Appeasement Policy: Originally referring to the patience and indulgence of Britain and France during the Second World War against Germany,it now refers to all policies of palliative care and indulgence.It made Indonesia’s smooth annexation of East Timor,which has strengthened its own strength.At the same time,it has also been condemned by public opinion.In the third phase,Australia supported East Timor’s independence from Indonesia,resulting in Indonesia losing East Timor and weakening Indonesia’s strength;it stimulated separatist sentiment and nationalist sentiment in Indonesia;it caused the Indonesian economy to fall into a new round of turbulence and affected the Indonesian economy.Restoration has affected Indonesia’s diplomatic direction(after the East Timor incident,Indonesia moved closer to Asian countries such as China and Singapore).Finally,Australia’s policy on East Timor’s impact on Australia itself.In the first and second phases,Australia acquiesced in favor of Indonesia’s annexation of East Timor,enhanced Australia’s relations with Indonesia,hit communism,and safeguarded the security of Australia’s periphery,but it damaged the international image of respect for human rights in Australia’s democratic countries,leading to the Australian government’s Moral condemnation.In the third phase,Australia’s help with East Timor’s independence has enabled Australia to re-establish a good image of respect for human rights,safeguard its peripheral security,and gain strategic and economic benefits.Australia has expanded its presence in the western Pacific to increase its influence in the Southwest Pacific.