Australia’s foreign policy towards the Asia-Pacific region is primarily driven by self-interest. Australian prime ministers, foreign ministers, diplomats and other political leaders have asserted on various occasions that their goal in the region has always been to promote Australia’s national interests while at the same time helping some of the states in the region meet some of their needs. However, Australia has not pursued self-interests to the exclusion of global values and norms. This article examines Australia’s policy towards the Asia-Pacific region and explains how governments have tried to align national interests with global values in the region since the Cold War ended.
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