ANALYSING PNG’S STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENT. PNG A STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENT? Since the birth of diplomacy up to this modern day nation states have developed strategies to further their interests to accomplish their goals and fulfil the needs of their people. In the modern era, nation states have employed the art of political, economic, psychological and military force to afford the maximum support to adopt best policies to further their interest. Strategies are formulated in this manner to further the policies developed for the interest of the states and its people. Papua New Guinea is no exception if it needs to accomplish its interest in the greater global community by analysing its current strategic settings in order to formulate a best strategic policy to pursue its national interest. This is an analytical essay to study, identify and determine the relationship, the strengths and weakness of the Papua New Guinea’s strategic environment. Papua New Guinea is located in a uniquely promising strategic location. It can be best described as where the Asia meets the Oceania. It is situated surrounded by the seas that connects the Asia region to the Pacific including Australia and New Zealand. It can be seen as both a land and maritime bridge between Asia and the Pacific. Commentators, academics and observers have acknowledged and appreciate the strategic location of PNG in linking the Asian region with Oceania and also a main player with cooperation among its smaller member states with its regional multilateral elements. The PNG’s strategic environment encompasses the aspects of Foreign Policy and National Security Policy that is captured in the Foreign Policy White Paper of 1982 which is still being reviewed to construct a new one that best suits its modern strategic environment. PNG’s strategic environment encompasses the country’s external relations with its neighbours and active trading partners, its surrounding international environment, illegal transnational activities that has the potential to arouse regional conflicts that could act as threat to National Security and the internal political instabilities that have a great impact on the immediate strategic environment of the country and its future international standing in its regional and global community are some aspects of PNG’s current strategic environment. Considering the key features of PNG’s strategic environment one must take into account as well the maritime territoriality of PNG, PNG’s Geographical location, PNG’s domestic politics, PNG’s regional groupings and alignments, potential regional conflict hotspots and the Asia Pacific Region and the growing economies of the Association of South East Asian Nation (ASEAN) member states by acknowledging the regional multilateral elements that strengthens relations and foster mutual trade agreements. PNG’s Strategic Environment. To the north and west of Papua New Guinea lies the powerful markets of the Asia region with China, Japan and Korea and to the west are emerging economic powers of the South East Asia which includes Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and Philippines. The South East Asian community to the west is described as a shield in protecting the western approaches of Papua New Guinea from the effects of conflict in more distant parts of Asia. The 1997 Asian financial meltdown has prompted the ASEAN member states to emphasise the need for greater economic interdependence over selfish independent economic policies. PNG has special observer status in every ASEAN meetings since its recognition in 1976 as special observer to ASEAN meetings which led to greater participation in trade and investments with ASEAN member states and also a signatory to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in 1989. This is another aspect that has shaped PNG’s current strategic environment. Since the Asian economic crisis, the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) have recuperated to become a dominant economic power in the Asian region but the question still lies in the future stability of PNG’s closest Asian neighbour, Indonesia which is still struggling with its own internal conflict of West Papuan secession which can affect Papua New Guinea’s border security since it shares the biggest land border with Indonesia. Generally the thriving economies of ASEAN should provide Papua New Guinea with advantageous trade and investment opportunities as well as sourcing intellectual enrichment and new ideas, including in the military field. Other major economic powers in the region such as Japan China and Korea are showing interest in Papua New Guinea’s strategic location in order to access the Pacific region. The markets of these three mentioned Asian economic powers are also looking promising for Papua New Guinea to look northward to secure and further its national interest. In bridging the Asia region to the Pacific, PNG is a major player in the Pacific region with smaller island states to its East. PNG’s population strength, total land area, the maritime territoriality has placed it in a Strategic location just close to the South East Asia Archipelago with a vast Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) meeting the Pacific ocean. Australia to its south is Papua New Guinea’s closest and strongest ally in terms of economic, bilateral and defence ties. They both shared historical ties dating back to Second World War and share a very strong relationship in terms of trade and investment flows. Australia still remains as PNG’s closest and most important security partner. Australia and PNG may share similar strategic environment but different national interest. Strategic Studies specialist Robert Ayson has commented that Australia has realised that the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean are emerging as a single strategic system that is straddle by the South East Asian Archipelago with its policies driven towards dominant Asian markets as western economies become weaker. (Ayson, 2012) Papua New Guinea can draw similarities on the Australian strategic environment as Australia always has PNG in its sights when formulating Foreign and Security Policies. Australia has acknowledged that its interests are well served by PNG’s institutions such as PNGDF whose capabilities can contribute to both national development and external sovereignty tasks. 6 Key Features of PNG’s Strategic Environment. Here are five key features about the strategic environment of PNG that should be taken into consideration when formulating a new Foreign Policy White Paper or PNG Defence Force White Paper. 1. PNG’s Geographical Location. PNG’s favourable location can attract allies and friends from the Asia and Pacific region including Australia and New Zealand. Its strategic location geographically offers opportunities for PNG to benefit well in terms of bilateral and multilateral trade and investment flows and the free exchange of knowledge and ideas within this increasingly interconnected global community and with countries of mutual friendship. 2. Maritime Territoriality of PNG. Many regional countries are asserting their maritime interests as a way of territorial advancement to push for greater recognition in global and regional settings. Commentators like Robert Ayson perceive that the current trend of Indo-Pacific moment is fuelled by the interdependence of South East Asian Nations with corresponding interests. 3. Regional Groupings and Institutions. Supporting multilateral institutions to which PNG is a member of that includes ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), APEC, and the South Pacific Forum. PNG is a significant player in the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) that comprised a bloc of small Melanesian island states to the west of the Pacific region. Acknowledging regional and multilateral elements promotes interdependence and sharing of resource for mutual benefits of member states. 4. Regional conflicts and Instability. The South Pacific Region especially Solomon Islands and parts of Indonesia with secessionist movements could be a threat to the tranquillity of harmonic economic progression of the region. The region is not immune over the longer term from a possibility of a break down in security and law and order, possibly involving the use or threatened use of force. 5. External and Geopolitics. Focus towards the external and great powers of Asia should be partial, not complete, as the current situation with PNG’s biggest land border neighbour, Indonesia and its Secessionist movements could spill conflict into PNG if proper dialogue with two nations and the aggrieved secessionist party does eventuate well. 6. Domestic Politics. This will remain the main driver of change and this is the factor that we have the least control. Unstable internal politics limits economic growth and trade and investment flows between multilateral elements. Stability in internal politics attracts investor confidence and promotes national interest. This applies to the approaches that will be taken from regional powers like Indonesia, China, the US, India, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Conclusion. Papua New Guinea enjoys a favourable geographical location and is situated as a bridge linking Asia region with the Pacific region. Its western part of the island straddles the South East Asians Archipelago while the eastern tip meets the Pacific Ocean. It is well placed to enjoy the benefits of location in terms of trade, investment flows and the free exchange of knowledge and ideas by actively participating and supporting regional institutions which PNG is a significant member. The Key assumption as foundation of present calculations of regional stability relates to the future of a stable and cohesive Indonesia and the Papuan region. In the light recent developments this assumption is looking increasingly fragile with tensions looming in its Papuan provinces. Active participation and acknowledgement of regional institutions will continue to play a useful stabilizing effect with its foreign policy based on selective engagement has been notable to its economic growth.
Posted on: Mon, 15 Jul 2013 01:17:29 +0000
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