Australia's National Security: A Defence Update 2005

摘要

The first duty of the Australian Government is to provide for the security and defence of Australia and Australian interests. Government must ensure that we have defence capabilities to respond to a range of contingencies as well as a robust capacity to deal with military threats of a conventional kind should they arise. The Government must also ensure that it has defence capabilities that give credible options for the pursuit of international security policies necessary to support Australia's interests. Anticipating and meeting challenges to Australia s security remains a demanding task. The war on terrorism continues unabated on many fronts. The threat of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction has yet to be defeated as some states still seek to acquire a nuclear weapons capability. Longstanding issues, including those relating to the Middle East, North Korea, Iran and Taiwan, remain the subject of international tension. Many countries, including in the Asia-Pacific region, continue to struggle to create the conditions they need for stable economic and political development. In the Asia-Pacific region relationships are changing. Countries inevitably experience different levels and rates of economic development and modernisation. These differences influence strategic relationships, both between major powers and between major powers and smaller countries. The United States is adapting its posture in response to changes in the global strategic environment. The strategic and economic importance of China and India is growing. Japan is demonstrating a willingness to play a more active role in global security issues.