Where would India, Australia defense cooperation go

印澳加强防务合作可能前景

Source
China Military Online
Editor
Xu Yi
Time
2023-06-01 21:12:27

By Wu Minwen

吴敏文

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi started his 3-day visit to Australia on May 23 and the bilateral defense cooperation was an important part of the agenda. In recent years, the relationship between India and Australia has obviously improved and their defense cooperation has been increasingly strengthened. As India and Australia are both members of the QUAD, Modi's visit attracted wide attention.

5月23日,印度总理莫迪开启为期3天访问澳大利亚的行程,防务合作是重要议程。近年来印度与澳大利亚的关系明显升温,防务合作也日趋紧密。印度、澳大利亚都是美日印澳“四方安全对话”机制成员,莫迪此访令人瞩目。

All relationships between any two countries are strengthened or weakened based on their actual specific interest appeals. Although both Australia and India used to be British colonies, they did not develop a particularly close or intimate relationship in the past. Since the beginning of this century, based on their realistic interests such as the interest appeals beyond the QUAD, India's dream of a global leading country, and a stronger need for military cooperation, the two sides are getting closer and closer.

任何两国关系的走近或者疏离,都有特定的现实利益诉求。澳大利亚与印度虽然在历史上同属英国殖民地,但过去并没有特别亲近或热络的关系,从本世纪初开始,双方超出“四方安全对话”机制的利益诉求,印度“全球性领导大国”的梦想,以及军事合作上的互相需要,这些缘于现实利益的考量使得两国关系开始日益密切。

However, it should be noted that the complicated factors including the US' Indo-Pacific Strategy, the defense strategies and the security demands of India and Australia, among others, will affect the prospects of the India-Australia defense cooperation development.

不过与此同时仍应看到,美国的“印太战略”,以及印澳两国自身的防务战略、安全需求等,这些因素及其相互作用,都将会对印澳防务合作的发展前景产生影响。

First, it is difficult for India to get rid of the restraint of the QUAD. India has been flip-flopping to maximize its national interests. It is a member of the BRICS countries representing emerging economies, a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and a QUAD member implying group confrontation at the same time. In fact, when India gains diversified identities, it weakens its identity characteristics. India is neither a member of the core alliance AUKUS nor a member of the US, Japan and ROK Alliance actively promoted by the US.

一方面,“四方安全对话”机制的制约难以摆脱。印度寻求左右逢源的国家利益,其本身既是代表新兴经济体的金砖国家成员,也是上合组织成员,同时又是具有集团对抗意味的“四边安全对话”机制成员。事实上,印度在实现身份多元化的同时,也冲淡了它的身份色彩。印度既不是核心联盟“奥库斯”的成员,也不是美国积极推动的美日韩联盟成员。

The Indo-Pacific Strategy is dominated by the US. The cooperation between India and Australia is pushed by their domestic interest appeals as well as the Indo-Pacific Strategy and matchmaking of the US. However, the restraint of the Indo-Pacific Strategy on the two countries and the bilateral relationship will not be relaxed.

“印太战略”由美国主导,印澳两国的合作既有本国利益诉求的驱动,也有美国的撮合和“印太战略”的推动,但“印太战略”对二者及其双边关系的制约不会放松。

Meanwhile, there is an obvious difference in the enthusiasm for the relationship between India and Australia. Modi said when he revisited Australia and accepted a media interview, that he wants to take the relationship with Australia to the "next level", including closer defense and security ties. However, this could not cover the difference in the enthusiasm for the relationship between the two countries.

The difference in the economic development level between the two countries is huge, and insufficient complementarity is the main reason why their trade value has been low for a long term though the two countries have vigorously promoted the development of their relationship. India has pursued an independent strategy and adopted a nonalignment policy for a long time. Actually, it adheres to pragmatism and opportunism. Australia, however, always follows the US in the foreign relation aspect and it has bound itself to the chariot of the US. Therefore, though they have claimed to develop their cooperation in the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific regions, they always compete against and are suspicious and jealous of each other.

与此同时,印澳两国对相互关系也有比较明显的温差。莫迪再次到访澳大利亚,在接受媒体采访时说:“我相信,我的再次到访,将有机会将我们的关系提升到一个新的水平,实现更密切的防务和安全合作。”但这却无法掩盖印澳两国对相互关系的温差。两国经济发展水平差异巨大,缺乏互补性,是两国大力推动关系发展,贸易额却长期低迷的主要原因。印度长期实行追求战略自主的不结盟政策,实际上是一种实用主义和机会主义。而澳大利亚的对外关系始终唯美国马首是瞻,将自己牢牢绑定在美国的“战车”上。这必然导致印澳两国在印度洋和南太平洋地区虽然声称发展合作,但又始终存在竞争和猜忌。

In addition, it is difficult to eliminate the difference in culture between the two countries in the short term. Australia has adopted the notorious “White Australia policy” for a long time. Being hostile to Indians residing in Australia, it restricts the development of Indians residing in Australia and adopts a strict examination and review system in the absorption of Indian skilled migrants. The policy has even affected the competition of the diplomatic influence of the two countries on Fiji, an island country in the Southwest Pacific. Although the Australian government has definitely expressed that it is going to eliminate such influence, it is difficult to eliminate the prejudicedeeply rooted in the thinking of Australian political elites and ordinary people in a short time.

另外,两国之间的文化差异短期难以消除。澳大利亚长期奉行“白澳”政策,对印度裔侨民敌视和打压,并对印度裔技术移民采取严苛的审核制度,该政策甚至外溢到两国对西南太平洋岛国斐济的外交争夺之中。虽然澳大利亚政府明确表示要消除此类影响,但深入政治精英和本土民众思维深处的偏见,难以在短期内消除。

(The author is from College of Information and Communication, PLA National University of Defense Technology)

(作者单位:国防科技大学信息通信学院)

Editor's note: Originally published on zqb.cyol.com, this article is translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information and opinions in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn.

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