STRATEGIC PERCEPTIONS FROM INDONESIA, MALAYSIA AND SINGAPORE 1989-1992 AND THE IMPLICATIONS FOR AUSTRALIA'S SECURITY POLICIES

Abstract

Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore are of key strategic importance for Australia. These three nations form the geographic and arguably the political core of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The growing resilience of ASEAN over the last quarter of a century has been a major factor in Australia's secure strategic outlook. In addition, the Indonesia - Malaysia - Singapore triangle lies across the most feasible military approaches to Australia. Hence strategic cohesion in this triangle greatly reduces the prospect of any kind of military threat to Australia.