Remarks to the International Institute for Strategic Studies Asia

Thank you Veerle for that kind introduction.

I would also like to acknowledge the many distinguished guests in the room today.

It’s fantastic to be back in Singapore for the third time as Foreign Minister, and a pleasure to be back speaking at another International Institute for Strategic Studies event.

One of my first speeches as Australia’s Foreign Minister was here in Singapore with IISS almost two and a half years ago.

A lot has changed in such a short time – both for our region and globally.

To borrow Prime Minister Wong’s description, we are living in a "more dangerous and turbulent world".

More people are displaced. More people are hungry.

The climate is changing faster than our combined efforts to stop it.

There is greater risk of nuclear warfare, and conflict rages from Sudan to Myanmar, from Yemen to Gaza.

Russia’s illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine is now aided by troops from North Korea.

Another clear example of the way that heightened geostrategic uncertainty and threats to the international rules-based order affect us all.

You will have heard me speak often about our region, and the region we want.

Part of this is because so much of the discussion in Asia has traditionally been about China.

And if not about China, about the United States and China.

This is not to say China and strategic competition don’t matter to us.

As demonstrated - among other things - by our consistent efforts to restore dialogue in the China relationship, they are of huge consequence for Australia.

But the way we manage our interests in the face of challenges involving great powers is only partly through direct dealing. Much of the answer lies in approaching these challenges in regional terms.

There is a lot that happens in the thousands of kilometres between Australia, the United States and China, just as there is a lot that happens in the broader Indo-Pacific.

I often say that when Australia looks up to the world, we see Southeast Asia.

And the Australian Government knows that Southeast Asia is central to Australia’s future.

This space is central to Australia’s future. This is where we need greater understanding, both among analysts and commentators, and also within the polity.

It’s why we’ve worked to upgrade our relationships with many other Southeast Asian countries – I will talk more about that, and Singapore in particular, later on.

And it’s why it is incumbent on us to work with the region to shape the type of region we all want - peaceful, stable and prosperous.

A region that is respectful of sovereignty.

Where disputes are addressed in accordance with international law and norms, not by power and size.

Not just for our individual sovereignty, but for the future prosperity of our people.

Sadly the rules and norms that help to keep us safe are under pressure.

And the region is becoming more unstable.

In Myanmar we see more violence, we see the economy on a very difficult track, we see the instability, the insecurity.

The regime’s continued and violent repression of its people must stop.

We want the regime to fulfil its commitment under ASEAN’s Five Point Consensus and engage meaningfully with ASEAN representatives.

Genuine, inclusive dialogue is vital, and Australia stands ready to work with ASEAN and other partners to find ways that encourage dialogue between all players in Myanmar.

We urge the regime to take a different path, and to bring to the table any support that will help make a difference.

We remain deeply concerned by the pace at which China’s military is modernising, without the transparency or reassurance that the region expects.

We also see China’s efforts to normalise dangerous actions towards the Philippines and Taiwan. We have consistently pressed China on peace and stability in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait.

What happens in the South China Sea, the Taiwan Strait, the Mekong subregion, and across the Indo-Pacific, affects us all.

When disputes inevitably arise, we need to insist that those differences are managed through dialogue, not simply by force or raw power.
It’s why we welcome the resumption of leader and military level dialogue between the US and China.

We will continue to reiterate to both the US and China our expectation they manage competition responsibly.

Dialogue and open channels of communication are essential to this.

Now more than ever, we need preventive architecture to increase resilience, and conflict prevention mechanisms provide transparency and reassurance.  

We want to support ASEAN Member States to ensure, collectively, we all have the practical tools we need to be able to rapidly and effectively deescalate tensions and crises.

Australia strives for a world where we can find collective solutions to our toughest problems.

It’s why we place so much value our long partnership with ASEAN and strongly support ASEAN centrality.

As Foreign Minister Balakrishnan recently put it, ASEAN is the region’s "centre of gravity which brings all the key players together to find common ground".

ASEAN has long understood the importance of collaboration, engagement and negotiation of differences – of acting to shape its region.

It is vital to the stability of our region, even more so as the rules and norms which underpin peace and stability are being challenged, and tested.

To paraphrase Prime Minister Wong’s words—in a more dangerous and turbulent world, holding the centre, assuring ASEAN centrality, is harder, but even more important.

As ASEAN’s first Dialogue Partner and first Comprehensive Strategic Partner we have a deep and enduring friendship.
Built on mutual trust, shared interests and a positive vision for our region's future.

Together we have achieved a great deal, cooperating in climate and energy, including through the Aus4ASEAN Futures Initiative, providing new scholarships to meet ASEANs priorities…

…and working together on maritime initiatives, including maritime capacity-building to further peace and stability in our region.

And we look forward to Timor-Leste joining ASEAN, in line with the ASEAN Roadmap, anchoring it in our region’s architecture.

As Southeast Asia experiences its rapid economic growth, Australia is committed to greater economic engagement.

It is what underpins the region we all want.

It’s why one of our first actions to deepen our engagement was to develop an economic strategy for Southeast Asia.

In September 2023 at the ASEAN Indo-Pacific Forum in Jakarta, Australia’s Prime Minister Albanese launched Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040.

And in the 12 months since its launch, we have made tangible progress.

We have now implemented a number of initiatives responding to its recommendations, including:

• new deal teams to identify and facilitate Australian investment in the region;
• new landing pads in Jakarta and Ho Chi Minh City, in addition to the existing hub in Singapore, to help our tech companies scale up;
• business and investment missions, including three to Singapore, one of which was our largest ever outbound investment mission by value, representing a combined $2.5 trillion of assets under management;
• improved visa access for businesspeople from the region; and
• the establishment of the ASEAN-Australia Centre to drive greater Southeast Asia literacy and enhance business and cultural ties.

And we will continue to look for more opportunities and initiatives to deepen our engagement.

We also want to increase our already deep and broad ties with Singapore as part of these efforts.

I’m looking forward to meeting with Prime Minister Wong, Deputy Prime Minister Gan, Foreign Minister Balakrishnan and Defence Minister Ng today to discuss our ambition for the next phase of our important partnership.

Singapore is one of Australia’s closest and most trusted partners.

We have a long-term partnership based on mutual respect and a proven track record of cooperation.

Grounded in our geography and our shared history.

Australia was the second country in the world to recognise Singapore’s independence.

And today our friendship is underpinned by strategic trust; by complementary economic interests; and a commitment to work together on the region’s energy transition.

Next year we celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations, and the first decade of our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

We have achieved a great deal under this partnership.

From boosting our cooperation in defence and security; our significant trade and investment; our first-of-its-kind Green Economy Agreement; our science, tech and innovation cooperation, our Digital Economy Agreement; and our work together through our Food Pact.

As Foreign Minister Balakrishnan says, we have many ‘pathfinding’ initiatives with Singapore – and we want to build on these.

As we look towards our 60th anniversary year, we will renew our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to ensure it keeps pace with our collective ambition.

Together we are addressing shared challenges and creating new opportunities to ensure a better future for our nations and our region.

We want to forge an even closer and deeper partnership – with Singapore, with other Southeast Asian countries and with ASEAN.
To build the foundations of our future together.

For our nations and our region as a whole.