The Vietnam War is perhaps one of the most influential events in Australia’s international history, perhaps even more relevant than either of the world wars. Up until the Vietnam War, Australia’s foreign policy revolved around her historic links to Britain, and her desire to have a positive relationship with strong western powers, such as the United States. An Australian Academic Dr. Alison Broinowski made a statement in 1988 that “Most Australian’s seem not to have noticed a shift in gravity from the declining west to the dynamic, modernising East has been going on for some years. Our minds are in the wrong time zone. It is important we make friends with our neighbours.” In the past especially during the Vietnam War, Australia may have overlooked any Eastern relationships by focusing instead on Western alliances. This quote
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Still holding strong ties to Britain and building a strong allegiance to the US, Australia refused any kind of relationship with communist Asia such as China. However during the Vietnam War, Australia was beginning to strengthen relationships with non-communist Asia even allowing limited entry of qualified Asian people to immigrate permanently in 1966. This information seems to point in the direction of slow but steady progress towards a better foreign policy in Australia, with improved relationships with both the east and the west. This was not the case though as Australia held onto a stigmatized view of Asia as radical and dangerous, with not a single Australian diplomat at the time being fluent in any Asian language creating outrageous stereotypes of Asia based on very little knowledge. With the economy of South East Asia blossoming during the late 20th century, Australia’s lack of change to their foreign policy seems to mirror that of the statements made by Broinowski that Australia was foolishly focusing on the wrong
Still holding strong ties to Britain and building a strong allegiance to the US, Australia refused any kind of relationship with communist Asia such as China. However during the Vietnam War, Australia was beginning to strengthen relationships with non-communist Asia even allowing limited entry of qualified Asian people to immigrate permanently in 1966. This information seems to point in the direction of slow but steady progress towards a better foreign policy in Australia, with improved relationships with both the east and the west. This was not the case though as Australia held onto a stigmatized view of Asia as radical and dangerous, with not a single Australian diplomat at the time being fluent in any Asian language creating outrageous stereotypes of Asia based on very little knowledge. With the economy of South East Asia blossoming during the late 20th century, Australia’s lack of change to their foreign policy seems to mirror that of the statements made by Broinowski that Australia was foolishly focusing on the wrong