Australia’s South China Sea Policy From The Perspective Of The US Indo-pacific Strategy

The Indo-Pacific strategy was officially launched and implemented by the Trump administration in 2019.When the COVID-19 continued to roam the planet in 2020,the US promoted the pace of its new strategy and further pushed ahead with the“militarization” of its South China Sea(SCS)policy.As for 2021,the US has undergone government change,with the Biden administration coming into power.Despite the fact that the incumbent government has adopted different courses of action from the predecessor’s harsh China policy,the two parties are basically consistent when it comes to strategies and policies involving national interests,values and ideology.Therefore,in the aspect of Indo-Pacific strategy and SCS policy,it is expected that the Biden team will make no major changes,but adopt more diverse and professional political and legal means to make further adjustments.Australia,as the US’ strategic pillar in the southern hemisphere,regardless of the overall deterioration of Sino-Australian relations,sticks to the US strategic and policy adjustments.By abandoning its position of “taking no side” and demonstrating coordinated actions to its ally,Australia is increasingly and highly involved in the SCS disputes.This thesis first elaborates the revival of Australian “Indo-Pacific” strategic view and its embodiment,holding that Australia aligns with the US strategic adjustment and rediscovers the “Indo-Pacific” construct.It changes its stance from “cautious intervention” and “active intervention” to “high-profile intervention” in the SCS disputes,in order to be an active part of the US strategy.Then,in the context of the US Indo-Pacific strategy,the thesis investigates the reasons why Australia adjusts its SCS policy from its Western as well as Middle Power identity,domestic and foreign political factors,and geo-economic interests.With regard to the multiple factors,the latest data and studies that reflect Australia’s SCS policy adjustments have been collected and analyzed.The research in this thesis find that Australia takes a variety of new initiatives in the following areas such as the Freedom of Navigation Operation(FONOP),the illegal SCS arbitration,construction on islands and reefs,and military presence around the SCS(including military bases,drills,expenditure and investment).Grounded on the above analysis,the thesis hence makes a prediction on the future trends and challenges of Australia’s SCS policy under the US Indo-Pacific strategy.It is believed that in spite of the restrictions in Australia’s SCS policy,such as structural contradictions of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue and policy adjustments during the Biden administration,Australia’s intervention in the SCS disputes will be “normalized;”Australia will continue to hype up the disputes in the name of international law and order;Australia will also deepen military cooperation with the US,Japan and India,so as to prepare for the future joint patrols in the SCS.Accordingly,some suggestions for China’s strategic responses are put forward,in the hope that China,the US and Australia can reach consensus on the issues on the SCS region and the Indo-Pacific,maintain a stable situation in the region,and “enhance mutual trust through dialogue and promote development through cooperation.”...