2016 DEFENCE WHITE PAPER

70
CHAPTER THREE: AUSTRALIA’S DEFENCE STRATEGY
SECTION ONE STRATEGY
A stable Indo-Pacific region and a rules-based global order
3.9 Our third Strategic Defence Interest is in a stable Indo-Pacific region
and rules-based global order which supports Australia’s interests. The
Indo-Pacific includes North Asia, the South China Sea and the extensive
sea lines of communication in the Indian and Pacific Oceans that
support Australian trade. A stable rules-based regional order is critical to
ensuring Australia’s access to an open, free and secure trading system
and minimising the risk of coercion and instability that would directly
affect Australia’s interests. A stable rules-based global order serves to
deal with threats before they become existential threats to Australia, and
enables our unfettered access to trading routes, secure communications
and transport to support Australia’s economic development.
CHINA 107
SOUTH KOREA 29.7
JAPAN 69.8
INDIA 11.9
TAIWAN 11.2
MALAYSIA 12.8
USA 25.2
SINGAPORE 20.8
INDONESIA 12.1
NEW ZEALAND 12.0
Bilateral Sea Freight (AUD $billion/year)
Heavy
Light
International Shipping Density
Figure 2:
Sea Freight: Australia's top ten trading partners