The prime minister is being urged to focus on education and digital technology to counter China when the leaders of the United States, India and Japan arrive in Sydney for the Quad summit.
Anthony Albanese will host the leaders at the Sydney Opera House on May 24.
National security expert William Stoltz says while some would hope for the four nations to contribute to a military deterrence strategy against China, India could be a holdout.
“It’s clear that India is not interested in this,” Dr Stoltz told AAP.
“India is threatened by Chinese aggression but it wants to deal with China on its own terms and does not want to constrain its freedom of action by signing up to too many commitments to other countries’ security.”
Dr Stoltz said the most practical method of co-operation was to provide joint investment in the digital infrastructure of developing countries, especially across Southeast Asia and the South Pacific.
“China is having significant success in providing the digital infrastructure and education smaller countries need but through this China is exporting its authoritarian norms and expanding its surveillance of other countries,” he said.
“Collectively the Quad has the financial and technical resources to offer these countries safer, more reliable digital development without compromising their security.”
A comprehensive review of Australia’s defence capabilities released this week recommended more diplomatic capital in Southeast Asia and the Pacific, including through regional bodies such as ASEAN and the Pacific Islands Forum.
The Quad meeting has never been hosted by Australia.
“Quad partners are deeply invested in the success of the Indo-Pacific,” Mr Albanese told reporters on Wednesday.
“Leveraging our collective strengths helps Australia advance its interests and more effectively respond to the region’s needs.
“We are always better off when we act together with our close friends and partners.”
Greens Leader Adam Bandt said the government needed to focus on de-escalating tension with China, and criticised the government’s plan to spend hundreds of billions of dollars on nuclear-powered submarines.
“One of the biggest concerns about the direction the government is taking is that it makes Australia less safe,” he said.
“The government is … joining one side of the conflict unequivocally and making the Australian Defence Force an offshoot of the US Defence Force.
“If we don’t put everything into Australia’s de-escalation between the US and China, then the risks are far too high.”
The prime minister also confirmed he would attend the APEC meeting in San Francisco later in the year and was working on a schedule for a bilateral visit to the US.
He said the Quad meeting offered an opportunity to showcase Sydney and the rest of Australia to the world.
© AAP 2023
