Power Shift Analysis

In his article Power shift: rethinking Australia’s place in the Asian century Hugh White intends to outline that China’s rise as a major economic and military power in East Asia will have to result in the Commonwealth’s revision of Australia’s strategic interests, followed by corresponding alterations of the nation’s foreign policies. He argues that Australia’s interests are most likely to be met in the future if the major East Asian powers can agree on a shared regional leadership to guarantee continued security and economic growth, an outcome Australia should actively seek to facilitate. Although the review shares the opinion that the Commonwealth should aim to act as a mediator between China and the United States, it notices that White fails
White states that American military supremacy and its strategic leadership in East Asia throughout the past 40 years guaranteed security in the region, which provided the ground for political and economic development, the latter especially in China. While Australia also profited from this secure environment, the author advises the Commonwealth to reconsider its strategic positioning in light of China’s increasing strive for economic and military power (White 2011, p. 83). He considers the possibility of a future Chinese economic backlash, but comes to the conclusion that continued growth of the nation’s economy is the more likely outcome, which will result in greater economic interdependency of other Asian countries to China and continued growth of the Asian nation’s military capabilities. Despite the growing ability of China to influence other regional nations, White highlights
to retain its influence in East Asia and facilitate a greater sense of security for other East Asian countries (White 2011, p. 86). White emphasizes in this context that it would be essential for the regional actors to declare their willingness for military actions against Chinese aggression (White 2011, p. 87).
While it is essential to establish rules and retaliatory measures to avoid an ineffective appeasement policy, military threat should yet not be the only measure to assist regional security. The paper lacks the outlining of a possible institutional framework that would assist the establishment of a ‘Concert of Asia’.
From a liberalist point of view, cooperation in international institutions leads to greater international security. A possible solution to overcome an arms race in the Taiwan Strait might for example include its complete demilitarisation and deployment of controlling forces that include members of all regional actors. Institutionalized economic cooperation would also aid the same end. Australian mediation to establish such frameworks would help to underline its role as a ‘good international citizen’ and thus promote its own