澳洲區域海上安全戰略與武力規劃：一個中等國家的安全建構

Australia’s Maritime Security Strategy in the Asia-Pacific Region: The Security Construction of a Middle Power

澳大利亞，簡稱澳洲，位於南半球地區瀕臨太平洋與印度洋之間島陸，其生存與海洋利益息息相關。雖然澳洲領土廣闊約七百八十萬平方公里，但人口卻僅約兩千一百萬人。從地理與人口的比例分析，除非擁有高質量的科技防衛系統，以彌補其領土廣大而軍力有限的國防問題，否則澳洲國防力量與亞太地區主要國家的軍力仍有相當大落差。澳洲是一中等國家，國防軍力相當有限，因此其國防戰略須緊密地連結於亞太區域的安全與穩定。具體言之，澳洲的國家安全戰略必須以依附美國的亞太軍事同盟關係為主，且以與東南亞國家之間的信心建立措施為輔，唯有如此才能確保其國家安全。在亞太地區，除少數內陸國家，幾乎所有的國家都是濱海，隨各國對海洋戰略利益日益重視，並積極提升海軍實力確保國家海上利益，已使得亞太海上潛在衝突可能性逐漸增加。澳洲是個中等國家，如何追求區域穩定以確保其海上安全，已成為新世紀澳洲國防戰略的主要發展方向。

Australia, a continent island, is located in the southern hemisphere and borders on between both the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean, in which its survival and the maritime benefits are therefore closely linked with various maritime activities. Although Australia’s territory is approximately 7.8 million square kilometres in size, its population is actually only around 21 million in number. In regard to this unbalanced proportion of huge open spaces and relatively small population, the Australian capability of national defence would be fragile. Consequently, Canberra requires developing an advanced technical defence system to make up its restricted national defence for its abundant natural resources at land and huge living spaces at sea. Due to Australia is a medium sea power with limited military might, its national security is required to closely link up the regional security and stability. More concretely, Australia’s primary national defence strategy must attach to the US Asia-Pacific security alliance. Besides, it also needs to develop confidence-building measures with Southeast Asia countries as an auxiliary for its security. By doing so, then Australia can guarantee its national security. In the Asia-Pacific, maritime benefits nowadays have become increasingly important among regional countries which all positively expand naval capabilities to guarantee their maritime interests. This situation has already caused the increasing likelihood of potential maritime conflicts. Australia is the medium power, how can it guarantee its maritime security through pursuing the regional stability, which has already become the major strategic problem of Australian national defence in the 21st century.