Blind Spot

What specific historical factors have contributed to Australia's tendency to overlook Southeast Asia in favour of other Asian regions?

Michael Wesley examines how Australia's foreign policy focus has historically leapt over Southeast Asia to concentrate on the larger economies of Northeast Asia, such as Japan, South Korea and China, and more recently towards India. This pattern of looking beyond our immediate neighbours has deep roots in how Australia has conceived of its place in the region and its economic priorities. Wesley argues that this habitual oversight has prevented us from developing the deep understanding and relationships that our geographic position and strategic interests actually require.

How does Wesley's background in Asian studies and university leadership inform his perspective on Australia's regional engagement?

As the former head of the Lowy Institute and dean of ANU's College of Asia and the Pacific, Wesley brings extensive experience in both policy analysis and academic expertise on regional affairs. His current role as Deputy Vice Chancellor at the University of Melbourne, focusing on global engagement, provides him with insight into how educational and cultural connections shape international relationships. This combination of think tank leadership, academic administration in Asian studies, and hands-on experience with cross-cultural engagement gives him a unique vantage point to assess the gaps in Australia's regional understanding.

In what ways does Wesley argue that Southeast Asia will be the decisive theatre for the emerging world order?

Wesley positions Southeast Asia as the critical region where China's ambitions for regional power will either succeed or fail, making it far more strategically significant than many Australians realise. Rather than viewing the region as merely a collection of smaller economies or a buffer zone between major powers, he argues that Southeast Asia's geopolitical position and the choices its nations make will fundamentally shape the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific. This framing challenges the conventional Australian view that focuses primarily on the US-China relationship or India's rise as the main determinants of regional order.

What does Wesley mean by suggesting that Australia's alliance with the United States has created blind spots in our regional policy?

The essay explores how Australia's close alignment with American foreign policy priorities may have constrained our ability to pursue independent relationships and policies in Southeast Asia. Wesley suggests that this subservience to US strategic frameworks has prevented Australian policymakers from fully hearing or understanding what our Southeast Asian neighbours are telling us about their own priorities and concerns. He argues that breaking free from this limited perspective requires Australia to develop more autonomous thinking about the region and our role within it, rather than simply viewing Southeast Asia through the lens of great power competition.

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