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Regional security environments 61
2.89 Unresolved territorial disputes also contribute to tensions in the area.
China’s 2013 unilateral declaration of an Air Defence Identification
Zone in the East China Sea, an area in which there are a number of
overlapping Air Defence Identification Zones, caused tensions to rise.
Australia is opposed to any coercive or unilateral actions to change the
status quo in the East China Sea.
2.90 Australia welcomes positive developments in North Asia to improve
relations, including meetings between the Chinese President and
Japanese Prime Minister, and between the foreign ministers of China,
Japan and South Korea. Enduring commitment to such efforts, to
avoiding provocative behaviour and to transparency about strategic
intentions and military modernisation will be essential to resolving the
status of territorial and other disputes peacefully.
SECTION ONE STRATEGY
2.91 Japan is a major power in North Asia with advanced self-defence forces
and is an important contributor to regional and global security. Australia
welcomes the prospect of Japan playing a larger role in international
security and will continue to deepen and broaden our growing security
cooperation with Japan. More details on the Australia-Japan relationship
can be found in Chapter Five.
South Asia and the Indian Ocean Rim
2.92 The Indian Ocean has become an important focus for Australian strategic
policy in recent years. Vital trade and energy routes for Australia and
many of our most important economic partners transit the Indian
Ocean. Half of the world’s container traffic and one-third of bulk cargo
traverses the Indian Ocean. Around 40 per cent of the world’s offshore
oil production comes from the Indian Ocean. Over the next 20 years, the
Indian Ocean will see a substantial increase in intra-regional maritime
trade, including in energy, food and other natural resources. The
Indian Ocean region is also likely to become a more significant zone
2016 DEFENCE WHITE PAPER