{"id":25150,"date":"2016-03-07T06:00:34","date_gmt":"2016-03-06T19:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/?p=25150"},"modified":"2016-04-10T18:38:52","modified_gmt":"2016-04-10T08:38:52","slug":"seven-defence-white-papers-by-the-numbers-part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/seven-defence-white-papers-by-the-numbers-part-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Seven Defence White Papers by the numbers (1)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A Defence White Paper is analysis framed by numbers.<\/span><\/p>\n More than dollars and equipment, the numbers offer meanings and mental maps. Seek the topography from the typography.<\/span><\/p>\n The crudest measure is to rank countries by the number of times they\u2019re mentioned.<\/span><\/p>\n The country count is employed by embassies to check out official statements. How often did we appear compared to everyone else?<\/span><\/p>\n The reference count is useful for calculation and comparison. And it produces hierarchies.<\/span><\/p>\n Apply the topography-from-typography test to the Oz Defence White Papers of the 20th century\u2014in<\/span> 1976<\/span><\/a>,\u00a0<\/span>1987<\/span><\/a>,<\/span> 1994<\/span><\/a> and<\/span> 2000<\/span><\/a>\u2014and the three White Papers of the 21st century, in<\/span> 2009<\/span><\/a>,<\/span> 2013<\/span><\/a> and<\/span> 2016<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n Note that the first White Paper in 1976, in the age of typewriters, got the job done in 60 pages; all those that followed went well beyond 100 pages.<\/span><\/p>\n The United States:<\/strong> The count attests to a simple and obvious fact: the US ranks first in Oz defence thinking. Six out of seven Papers, the US got the most White Paper mentions.<\/span><\/p>\n The single exception to the top-ranking rule was 1976 when Australia fretted the US was departing after the Vietnam defeat. On the \u201876 numbers, Australia was more worried about Indonesia and the Soviet Union than reassured by the alliance.<\/span><\/p>\n The United States<\/strong><\/p>\n China:<\/strong> China throbs powerfully today giving worrying answers to what were once only questions.<\/span><\/p>\n The cautious yet upbeat tone for the final quarter of the 20th century was set by the \u201976 paper: \u2018We welcome the opportunity to develop our relations with China; but we recognise the important differences in our political attitudes.\u2019 In the \u201987 White Paper, China dropped to four mentions (two of them on maps).<\/span><\/p>\n The 2000 White Paper was when Australia stepped beyond three decades of relative optimism and considered the possibility of conflict. China\u2019s relationship with the other big players was \u2018the most critical issue for the security of the Asia Pacific.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n
\n 1976<\/b><\/td>\n 1987<\/b><\/td>\n 1994<\/b><\/td>\n 2000<\/b><\/td>\n 2009<\/b><\/td>\n 2013<\/b><\/td>\n 2016<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 12<\/span><\/td>\n 62<\/span><\/td>\n 60<\/span><\/td>\n 43<\/span><\/td>\n 80<\/span><\/td>\n 86<\/span><\/td>\n 129<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n