オーストラリア国防白書が２０１３年５月３日に発表された。
２００９年に続き、２０１４年発表の予定が１年前倒しで策定された形である。
以前、エアパワーの項で触れたが、アフガンから2014年末までに撤退し、太平洋とインド洋で新たな展開をする、と言った内容。RAMSIを展開しているソロモン諸島からも法執行部門を残し軍隊は撤退、とのこと。
報告書は下記から入手できます。3MBあります。
http://www.defence.gov.au/whitepaper2013/docs/WP_2013_web.pdf
問題はこの白書を作成した労働党ギラード政権がこの９月で終了する事がほぼ確定していることだ。
で、一体誰がこの白書の責任を取るの？という声があがっている。
それとギラード政権が評判を落とした要因の一つが無理な予算削減。今回の白書に書かれた潜水艦や戦闘機の予算根拠がない！とメディアやシンクタンクの批判が集中している。
それでは、太平洋の話に移りやしょう。
この報告書でSouth Pacificが取り上げているのが第２章、３章と６章。（最後に参照した部分をコピペしてあります。）
自国防衛の次に重要なのが南太平洋と東チモール、と何度も繰り返している。
第２章は現状確認。太平洋の島々ー 資源開発の可能性はあるが、青年人口の増加に加え雇用がない事、気候変動、あらゆる脅威に脆弱な事から引き続き海外支援は必要。但し、アジア諸国（何処とは書いていないが、中国ではないか）の太平洋での活躍が期待されるので、そことのバランスが必要、と分析している。
第３章 ー 太平洋での活動には外務省、AusAID、連邦警察、国境警備局等のシビルエージェンシーとの協力を強調。海洋安全保障に関しては、PPBPの代替案であるPacific Maritime Security Program(PMSP)は特に国境警備局と連邦警察との協力が必須とまとめている。太平洋の海洋安全保障は法執行で、ということなんだろうが、civil-milの協力の必要性を訴えている。
最も興味深いのが第６章である。
現在太平洋島嶼国に供与していているPacific Patrol Boatsの代わりに”fleet of vessels"を供与する、と明記。外の項で戦艦、潜水艦の新規製造が豪州の造船業を強化する、と言っているので、これは確実であろう。豪州の援助政策は紐付きです、と公言する事憚らない。わかりやすい。
海洋監視に関して、"régional coordination centres"を支援するとある。センターが複数になっているのがどうも気になる。
それから現在太平洋島嶼国に派遣している王立海軍アドバイザーは継続し、PPBPに入っていない東チモールもPMSPに入れる、としている。
王立海軍アドバイザーはASPIのベルギン博士も賞賛している。PPBPは確かに失敗だったが現地に派遣した王立海軍はPPBPの唯一の成功例、豪州の財産と言ってよいであろう。我々もお世話になっている。
以上、今回の防衛白書のSouth Pacific の項をまとめてみた。
以前より、より具体的且つ明確になってはいるようにも思える、が、PMSPは2008年当たりから暫定的に立ち上げて一歩進んで二歩下がるみたい事をやっていたし。どう動くか、先はまだ見えない。
要は誰がやるか、という事だが国境警備局は海外経験が少なくあまり期待できず、他方連邦警察がソロモン諸島などで海外経験を積んでおり、有望視されている。まあどこの政府も同じで省庁間の協力はあまり期待できないようなのだ。
ここら辺の情報は、昨年キャンベラ及び各地で自分の足で拾ったオフレコ情報です。
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CHAPTER TWO: STRATEGIC OUTLOOK
Challenges in the South Pacific and Timor-Leste
. 2.52 Some South Pacific states have opportunities to benefit from growth in the Indo-Pacific. Demand for the marine, mineral, energy and forestry resources of the South Pacific and Timor-Leste has the potential to place the more richly-endowed countries on a more sustainable development path.
. 2.53 But the region also faces major challenges. Fast-growing populations and ‘youth bulges’, together with high levels of unemployment and obstacles to effective governance, create the conditions for escalating crime and violence. These difficulties will be compounded by the effects of climate change. The security capacity of South Pacific states to deal with internal, external or transnational threats is generally limited, and is likely to be dependent on foreign assistance for decades to come.
. 2.54 As Australia plays a central role in the South Pacific, we will need to continue to be a source of economic, diplomatic and, if necessary, military support.
. 2.55 But we recognise that attitudes to our role are changing. While Australia provides half the region’s total development aid and will be significantly increasing this contribution, the growing reach and influence of Asian nations opens up a wider range of external players for our neighbours to partner with. Australia’s contribution to this region may well be balanced in the future by the support and assistance provided by other powers.
. 2.56 Nonetheless, shared history and deep business and people-to-people links have created close relationships between Australia and South Pacific states. Australia remains committed to strengthening
CHAPTER THREE:
AUSTRALIA’S STRATEGIC POLICY APPROACH
Principal Task Two: Contribute to Stability and Security in the South Pacific and Timor-Leste
. 3.49 The second priority task for the ADF is to contribute to stability and security in the South Pacific and Timor-Leste. This involves defence cooperation with these countries and the conduct of military operations with others as required. Australia will continue to assist our neighbours with their stability and security in mutually agreed ways.
. 3.50 Operations under this task could include humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, evacuation operations to protect Australian and other foreign nationals, and stability operations such as those we have led in Timor-Leste and Solomon Islands. Stability operations may require sustained ADF deployments as part of a broader Australian Government response over a period of years.
. 3.51 The ADF’s enhanced amphibious capability will provide additional options for cooperation and engagement activities in the South Pacific and Timor-Leste, including bilateral or multilateral exercises with regional security forces. Maintaining an enduring joint amphibious presence in the South Pacific through regular deployments within the region will also provide the ADF with practical experience, training opportunities and a more responsive force posture consistent with our maritime strategy.
. 3.52 Any operations or capacity building activities in the South Pacific need to be very closely integrated with Australia’s civilian Agencies. Defence will take the lead in operations where there is a need to use force, or demonstrate our capacity and will to use force, and where the capabilities and planning required exceed the capacity of other Agencies. In other cases, Defence will support Agencies such as the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, AusAID, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service.
. 3.53 Defence’s arrangements for enhancing interoperability and coordination with the AFP in such operations are a good example of the progress that has been made in operating effectively with other Agencies in our immediate neighbourhood. Defence will work closely with other Agencies such as the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service and the AFP as the current Pacific Patrol Boat Program is replaced by the Pacific Maritime Security Program, and continue to invest in enhancing civil-military coordination.
CHAPTER SIX:
AUSTRALIA’S INTERNATIONAL DEFENCE ENGAGEMENT
South Pacific
. 6.54 Australia has a fundamental interest in the security and stability of the Pacific Island states. Australia will work closely with regional states and those with an interest in the region. The inaugural Annual South Pacific Defence Ministers meeting was held on 1-2 May 2013.
. 6.55 The ADF’s joint amphibious capability will be a central plank in our ability to conduct security and stabilisation missions in the region. Defence’s capacity to deploy and sustain humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and stabilisation missions will be substantially enhanced when two Canberra Class Landing Helicopter Dock ships enter service. These ships will be able to carry substantial quantities of personnel and equipment and both disembark them at sea via landing craft and helicopters and provide onshore support.
. 6.56 Australia recognises the importance of Exclusive Economic Zones to the economies of the Pacific Island states, and the challenges these states face in managing their Exclusive Economic Zones to ensure the security of their resources. Australia is committed to supporting them in this task including through implementation of a Pacific Maritime Security Program.
. 6.57 The Pacific Maritime Security Program will build on the success of the current Pacific Patrol Boat Program. The Pacific Maritime Security Program will broaden and strengthen the region’s capability to respond to maritime security, fisheries protection and transnational criminal threats.
. 6.58 The centrepiece of the Program will be the gifting of a fleet of vessels to replace the existing Pacific Patrol Boats, which need replacing over the period 2018-2028. This fleet of vessels is planned to be provided across all states that currently have Pacific Patrol Boats (including Fiji upon a return to democracy). The Program will also propose to enhance practical cooperation across the South Pacific including through strengthening governance structures that support maritime security and the provision of aerial surveillance, advisory support and support to regional coordination centres. This will include exploring ways to strengthen the capacity of countries to develop a regional response capability. Timor-Leste would also be invited to join the program. The comprehensive network of Royal Australian Navy advisers in the region will also be maintained, and supplemented by a number of Defence and Security Advisers in consultation with host governments.
. 6.59 The Government is committed to deepening Australia’s longstanding defence relationship with Papua New Guinea, to support its Defence Force’s sustainability and ability to perform constitutionally mandated tasks professionally.
. 6.60 Australia will provide assistance to the Papua New Guinea Defence Force in the areas of maritime surveillance, professional skills development, defence planning and management, and mobility. Australia will also seek to strengthen engagement with the Papua New Guinea Department of Defence to ensure that our defence partnership with Papua New Guinea builds capability in support and sustainment, as well as front line areas of Defence. The Government will support this commitment through an expansion of the longstanding bilateral Defence Cooperation Program.
. 6.61 The transition of the ADF presence in Solomon Islands will see the focus of that relationship change from security support to primarily capacity building. Australia’s interests in the stability of Solomon Islands will continue to be met through RAMSI’s support to the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force, with Defence to maintain its longstanding program of bilateral engagement with the Police Force focused on maritime security and explosive ordnance disposal. This will include continued training and advisory assistance, and maintenance of close relations through the conduct of regular exercises in Solomon Islands.
. 6.62 The Government remains committed to the defence relationship with Tonga, and will continue to support the positive regional and global security contribution of the Tonga Defence Service. The Government will continue to work with the Vanuatu Government to enhance the professionalism and capacity of Vanuatu’s security services. The Government plans to restore defence relations with Fiji once a credible election is held.
. 6.63 Australia’s shared maritime security interests with Timor-Leste, and the importance of deepening bilateral cooperation in this field, will be recognised by an invtation to extend the Pacific Maritime Security Program to Timor-Leste’s defence force. In response to improvements in the security situation,
