Hon Kevin Andrews MP keynote address on the 2015 Defence White Paper

By Asialink Diplomacy

Australia’s Minister for Defence, the Hon Kevin Andrews MP delivered a keynote address on the 2015 Defence White Paper at a lunch co-hosted by Asialink and the Australian Committee of the Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific (Aus-CSCAP) on Friday 22 May 2015.

Minister Andrews provided guests with a preview of the White Paper which will be released in the middle of this year.

The Minister outlined the strategic landscape which Australia faces, in particular the shift of global power to the Indo-Pacific and the importance to Australia of secure and open maritime routes in both the Indian and Pacific Oceans.  

He said Australia’s security environment is becoming more challenging, with the China-United States relationship particularly important in shaping the region.

The Minister’s address followed the 42nd meeting of Aus-CSCAP which addressed the theme: Agreeing a Rules-Based Order in the Asia Pacific – The South China Sea and Other Issues.  Mr Yang Yi, Secretary General of the China Institute of International Studies in Beijing, and Dr Kwa Chong Guan, Co-Chair of CSCAP, joined 25 members of Aus-CSCAP for the discussions.  The meeting was co-chaired by Professor Tony Milner and Dr Ron Huisken both of the Australian National University.  A report of the meeting’s proceedings will be published in June 2015.

Image source: Asialink