The Study On Security And Defense Relations Between Australia And ASEAN After The Cold War

The pattern of the international relations has undergone tremendous changes after the end of the Cold War in early 1990s.Against the backdrop of the collapse of the bipolar pattern,the new developments have already emerged in the security and defense relations between Australia and ASEAN.After the Cold War,Australia has taken an active role in multilateral security dialogues,taken an active support in the establishment of a new form of ASEAN Security and defense cooperation mechanism,and taken an active action in promoting the regional security cooperation.Currently,the ASEAN Regional Forum,led by ASEAN with security cooperation and dialogue mechanism as its core,has been the major platform for maintaining Asia-Pacific regional security order and solving regional disputes.In this security framework,security and defense cooperation between Australia and ASEAN has been carried in an orderly manner;consequently,defense relations have been steadily enhanced.Meanwhile,scope of bilateral cooperation has been extended from military and security field only to include non-traditional but severe-threating issues like economic security,anti-terrorism,energy security,etc.As a result,great achievements have been realized.Because of the unstable bilateral defense relationships between Australia and ASEAN countries,the developing process of the security and defense relations between Australia and ASEAN has also experienced many setbacks.Fortunately,Australia and each ASEAN member are trying hard to devote themselves to reduce frictions and increase mutual recognitions.There is no doubt that much deeper and closer cooperation relations in Australia and ASEAN's security and defense area has effectively promoted the improvement of the defense relations between Australia and ASEAN members,greatly promoted the regional safety and stability,and made a positive contribution to prosperity in Asia-Pacific region.