Sydney Launch of ACRI Report 'Conflict in the East China Sea: Would ANZUS Apply?'

Tensions between the two historical great powers of East Asia, China and Japan, have ratcheted up in recent years to the point where their territorial dispute over islands in the East China Sea is increasingly regarded as this region’s most dangerous flashpoint.

The prospect of Sino-Japanese conflict over these islands is one that cannot be taken lightly by Australia. Economically, three of our four leading trading partners are located in Northeast Asia, while sea lanes vital to Australian trade run through the waters of the East China Sea. Strategically and politically, two US allies are based in this region and America retains a strong forward military presence there.

ACRI commissioned a report on Conflict in the East China Sea: Would ANZUS Apply? The report was written by Professor Nick Bisley, Executive Director, La Trobe Asia, and Dr Brendan Taylor, Head, Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, School of International, Political & Strategic Studies, ANU College of Asia and the Pacific.

This report starts from the premise that insufficient analytical attention has been given to the potential ramifications for Australia of conflict in the East China Sea, particularly in terms of whether Australia’s alliances obligations with the United States could embroil Canberra in a conflict. 

The purpose of this paper is to begin to fill the gap in Australia’s public and policy debate by analyzing the circumstances under which conflict in the East China Sea could occur and the implications thereof for Australia.

The report was launched at the Australian Centre on China in the World, ANU College of Asia & the Pacific, Building 188, Fellows Lane, Australian National University, Canberra on Monday, November 3 2014.

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