This title may surprise or shock some readers.  After all the Federation of Australia was established in 1901. How come we are now talking about whether Australia is an independent nation or will it strive to be an independent nation ?

It has been a long time our politicians hardly talking about the pride of Australia to be an independent country. We all assume that we are a nation and therefore we are an independent nation. The reality in the recent decades is that Australia hardly distinguishes herself in the international scene as an independent nation.

Australia should be friendly to all nations and has good and close relations with other countries.  It is good to see that Australia is a good friend of USA and other countries.  The problem is we always end up as the “Little Boy” or “Little Soldier” of the Superpowers in history.  We become dependency or appendage of the superpowers.

For example, when US launched the Vietnam War, Australia was dragged into the war by the US Superpower in the name of the Alliance Forces.  Australia has not taken a separate and independent     view whether it was wise to engage in this infamous war of invasion. In the end, the Alliance Forces were defeated and pushed out of Vietnam.  Of course, before the defeat, the Anti-Vietnam War movements throughout the world had raised doubts on the war and called for withdrawal from the unjust war. Unfortunately, Australian politicians hardly review how Australia will act if similar situation arises again.  Are we going to be an appendage of the superpower and allow the country to be dragged into any wars launched by the big powers ?

Since the Vietnam War,  we now see that Australia is dragged into the war of invasion  in Iraq and Afghanistan.  When the big power is engaging in any wars, Australia is always conscripted into the wars whether it is just or unjust. There are so many innocent people are killed or bombed in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya. Big powers are always involved deeply in wars.

Australia is so lucky to have a former Prime Minister, Mr. Malcolm Fraser pointing out that Australia is foolish and naive to rely on American military power for its security.  He  said that too many people in Australia believed that if Australia supported US and went to war when it wanted us, US would support us on our security issues. He said the great powers would only act if it was in their interest.

Mr Fraser emphasizes that a number of factors that will secure the future of Australia. He mentions that “Our skill, our own strength, our own diplomacy, wisdom, our contribution to our region, our contribution to the overall security of that region”.

Mr. Fraser further points out that our major interests are in the East and South-east Asia. “Our secure and peaceful future depends on our relationships with countries of the region”, he says, “We must rely more on ourselves”.

He further says that Australia cannot buy security by supporting America unconditionally. “Unconditional support diminishes our influence throughout East and South-East Asia.  It limits our capacity to act as an independent and confident nation”.

“I believe that in dealing with countries in our own region, we need to show a greater strength of independence and a greater strength of mind.  We need to increase our sophistication in our approach to  relationships throughout East and South-East Asia”. said Mr. Fraser.

I totally share the view of Mr. Malcolm Fraser when he stresses that “Independence of mind and recognition of Australia's national interest will become more important in the light of developments in the relationship between China and the US.  The only solution that I can see of minimising the potential friction between these two major powers is by co-operation.”

“This should contribute greatly to peace, security and progress throughout our entire region”, he pointedly adds, “A major part of Australian policy should be to work for such a result”.

Mr. Fraser says that if we continue on a path of unthinking compliance with American policy, we will very soon find that we have made ourselves irrelevant to East and South-East Asia, politically and strategically.

It is time that Australia should break with subservience to America and adopts its own independent mind. “Subservience has not and will not serve Australia's interests.  It is dangerous to our future”, said Mr. Fraser.

There are a number of regional wars taking place now.  Human sufferings are enormous. If the international conflicts are not resolved fairly and peacefully, there is a great danger of Third World War.  This will be a catastrophe to the human races. The big powers should know that things cannot be achieved by military means.

Mr. Fraser concluded that “We need to articulate Australia's national interests as a country allied to but separate from the US.  We need leadership that will tell Australians in plain terms that our security ultimately depends on ourselves and the relationships we build with the countries of the Western Pacific and of East Asia.  It is our relationship with these countries that will determine our security.”

As the international conflicts and regional wars continue to spread, Australia should also play a role to promote world peace, to stop any potential new wars.  To do this, Australia will need to stand up and strive to be an independent nation. Only by adopting this approach, Australia will gain respect and support from its neighbouring countries as well as other part of the world.