The Hon. Julie Bishop
Deputy Leader of the Opposition
Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs
Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs
- While engaging in regional institutions, there is a need to continue working bilaterally with specific countries – recognising that each country has its own interests, history and cultures.
- Dealing with regional countries, it is helpful to stress commonalities. When serious differences arise, these are best dealt with separately: the Coalition did well to create the ministerial-level dialogue on human rights with China.
- It is important to avoid surprises in diplomatic relationships; one of the problems of the Rudd proposal for an Asia Pacific Community is that it was made without apparent consultation with regional partners.
- With respect to Asian regionalism, there are likely to be advantages in being patient and waiting for invitations rather than attempting to impose plans on our partners. It was an accomplishment of the previous Coalition government to obtain an invitation to join the East Asia Summit in 2005.