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284 australian maritime issues 2009: spc-a annual
the former requires sustained action by various agencies, both internal and external to the
region, actions that transcend traditional frontiers and sea lines. Consequently, defence
cooperation has attained many new forms and meanings. Today, defence cooperation
encompasses all activities undertaken by the Defence Forces to avoid hostilities, build
and maintain trust, and to contribute in conflict prevention and resolution. 3 Defence
cooperation activities are not structured and conducted in isolation, but form part of the
larger process of inter-state cooperation. The degree of defence cooperation has for long
been dependent on the prevailing relations between states. Where the relations are good,
cooperation has flourished. Where there is a dip in relations, countries have resorted to
ceasing cooperation, and at times even indulged in direct military coercion. During the
Kosovo conflict, in direct retribution of the mistaken bombing of the Chinese embassy
in Belgrade by the US, China had suspended port calls at Hong Kong for all US naval
vessels. These could be resumed only in the year 2000.
This essay aims to establish that the converse of the above is equally correct - that is to
say better defence cooperation (in particular naval cooperation) improves the relations
between nations, and thereby helps reducing tensions. The main arguments of the
essay have been structured with reference to answering three essential questions:
Why do navies cooperate? How does naval cooperation help in reducing tensions?
How can we cooperate better? Naval cooperation is a subset of defence cooperation,
and comprises of operations in which naval forces of two or more nations operate
in the same theatre, without formal arrangements to coordinate operations or an
integrated command structure. The various levels at which naval cooperation can be
conceptualised are at the alliance level; in coalitions; non-coalition naval cooperation;
and the more general, maritime cooperation. 4 An alliance involves the highest degree
of political commitment. Operations carried out under the auspices of an alliance
may encompass the entire span of maritime operations, from benign operations to
full scale war fighting. Coalitions entail a political commitment and defined political
objectives by coalition members. Coalitions are more limited in scope than formal
alliances, often lacking a mutual commitment and not requiring the same degree of
shared worldviews. Naval cooperation at the non-coalition level does not require any
specific common political or strategic objective. Such cooperation comprises of ‘actions
undertaken by mutual consent’. 5 This is focused on non-controversial areas especially
in benign and constabulary roles. A nation can thus continue to reap the benefits of
such cooperation as a ‘partner’ while still distancing itself from being an ‘ally’ of the
other. Maritime cooperation involves navies and/or other maritime security agencies
such as coast guards that engage in benign or constabulary operations in normal
conditions. Maritime cooperation may or may not involve navies directly.
While a relatively high degree of political commitment is presupposed in alliances
and coalitions this is not binding for the latter two levels. Thus the main focus of the
essay in as far as ‘reducing tensions’ goes, is at the non-coalition naval cooperation
and maritime cooperation levels. Activities falling within the ambit of these levels