Why Dont Australia And New Zealand Just Become Part Of Asia Already?

[jankren]

I used to see Australia as a 'Crusader state' in the middle of Asia especially during the reign of that a-hole John Coward who claimed that Australia was a 'US Sheriff in Asia'. But over the years it seems Australia have begun to wake up from its denial that their destiny lies in Asia and they have begun to slowly move away from Europe in its leaning and integrate more into its neighboring Asian and Southeast Asian community in particular. And it seems also Asia are accepting them warmly into the 'gang'.

First their national football team was welcomed to join Asian football association. And recently Australia and New Zealand signed a massive free trade deal with all ASEAN members.

Now my opinion about them have changed considerably and I think they should just be part of Asia. I mean the concept of Oceania is super ridiculous considering for example my island country Indonesia and India are considered parts of Asia even though we are separated by far larger ocean than the ocean separating us and Australia. Moreover, for another example if we wanna talk about ethnicity I believe we Indonesians are no more different to Indians or Afghans as we are to Australians.

So why dont Australia and New Zealand just be parts of Asia already? Or maybe they just wanna wait until the Chinese outbreed everyone else and turns Australia into a People's Republic?

[Thorn777]

LOL Crusader state.....

Its another continent if you accept it or not, but they sure better be good friends with the Asian nations above them. Especially Indonesia.

[Burnum]

It's not that we've abandoned our connections with Great Britain, its that Great Britain used and abandoned us. It started with Winston Churchill in WW2 who believed that Australians should be more loyal to the Empire then to their own country. Australians and Kiwis Identifying with Great Britain basically stopped when UK joined the European Community, many considered it a great betrayal, they shed blood for the UK in their wars and this how the British repay them?

It's ironic "our" convict heritage made us more flexible in foreign relations ( I put it in quotation marks, because specifically I don't have a convict heritage nor am I ingrained in popular Australia culture) and we basically said " off, you s" and we turned to America and eventually Asia, to point that China and japan owns a fair share of our industry and influenced our culture to a great deal. Poor NZ, who didn't have convict heritage and basically got the shock of their lives ( they basically considered themselves the British of pacific ocean) and turned them into the bitter hippies, they are.

[Erebus Pasha]

It's not that we've abandoned our connections with Great Britain, its that Great Britain used and abandoned us. It started with Winston Churchill in WW2 who believed that Australians should be more loyal to the Empire then to their own country. Australians and Kiwis Identifying with Great Britain basically stopped when UK joined the European Community, many considered it a great betrayal, they shed blood for the UK in their wars and this how the British repay them?

By joining the EU!?!

You do know that there are still close links between the mother country and Australia and New Zealand don't you?

[Burnum]

I am little hesitant about Indonesia, I fear their attempts to modernize their Navy is nothing more then a prelude to size the Oil and gas reserves in the Timor sea.

By joining the EU!?!

You do know that there are still close links between the mother country and Australia and New Zealand don't you?

We share the same head of state, we speak the same language and we always beat you at sport, no real practical level, not anymore. "Mother country?" You overestimate UK's popularity in Australia.

Searched the net and I am at a loss for John Howard making racist comments. Are you referring his defending a cabinet member: John Howard's Seduction of Australia: Chapter 4, Minorities

1988, John Howard suggested that we practicality re-embrace the White Australian policy.

As for the UK abandoning Australia -- the funny thing about sovereignty is that you are on your own. To suggest abandonment when you are a free country is a bit of a contradiction.

Before World War Two, weren't sovereign, the UK controlled all our foreign policy and trade, as well as some domestic issues.

I have the highest level of doubt that Australia has adopted anything resembling Asian culture in any way shape or form that I'm just going to outright say it; you are wrong or making **** up, your choice.

Says the Canadian, on the opposite side of the world, I mean have you even been to Australia? Here's an Idea, next time walk down the CBD of Sydney or pretty much any state capital and you'll see what I mean.

I suppose by hippies you mean Non-Authoritarian. Sure, if that's the way you see it .

Please, New Zealand isn't Non-Authoritarian. When Australia says jump, New Zealand asks "how High?

I can truthfully say I have never heard anyone say that Australia should join Asia.

Really? A much greater engagement with Asia was is one of the main pilicies of the Current government.

[Erebus Pasha]

We share the same head of state, we speak the same language and we always beat you at sport, no real practical level, not anymore. "Mother country?" You overestimate UK's popularity in Australia.

We've always been called Pommie so I'm not for a minute suggesting that we're going to win a popularity contest down under.

What I am saying is that there are still substantial numbers of Aussies that come to the UK to live and work and quite a few British that have gone and done the same in Australia. There are still a lot of close ties between the peoples of both countries. I have family that live in Perth.

[Spartan90]

Says the Canadian, on the opposite side of the world, I mean have you even been to Australia? Here's an Idea, next time walk down the CBD of Sydney or pretty much any state capital and you'll see what I mean.

Haha, sounds exactly like my post Don't understand why someone can be so judgemental about another's country when they probably couldn't even point it out on a map, let alone have an educated opinion about its culture.

[antaeus]

We share the same head of state, we speak the same language and we always beat you at sport, no real practical level, not anymore. "Mother country?" You overestimate UK's popularity in Australia.

in the last referendum - not that long ago, australians voted to keep the queen as head of state... more than a million australians were born in the UK. up to 3/4 of a million tourists come to australia every year from the uk.. i think the two are ok for now.

Says the Canadian, on the opposite side of the world, I mean have you even been to Australia? Here's an Idea, next time walk down the CBD of Sydney or pretty much any state capital and you'll see what I mean.

i have lived in australia, sydney for that matter. also lived in the uk, new zealand and turkey.. and have visited most major cities in europe and south asia.. what i see on australias streets is the same as what has happened in places like vancouver, london, auckland, las angeles etc etc... various disapora communities have grown up (chinese, indian etc) but dont mistake a city having a chinese suburb in the inner city with that country becomming more chinese. according to the 2006 census, 3.3% of australians were of chinese ethnicity, indians were 1.2% no other asian population broke 1%. more than 90% of australians were non asian.

Please, New Zealand isn't Non-Authoritarian. When Australia says jump, New Zealand asks "how High?

tongue in cheek i know.. but i'll bite anyway... where was new zealand throughout the john howard reign? disagreeing with every policy he made. australians in iraq? new zealand saying its illegal. australians kicking out afghan and iraqi refugees, new zealand saying "we care - we'll look after them" for pretty much the last 20+ years, new zealand and australia have been pretty much opposites governmentally.. during the howard years new zealand drifted to the left so far than we now have a traditionally right of centre government and they still sit comfortably left of where australia is now. in fact.. i would go as far as suggesting that australia follows new zealand's lead on a lot of things.. gst? the kyoto protocol? the welfare state? universal suffrage? free healthcare for all? etc etc...

Really? A much greater engagement with Asia was is one of the main pilicies of the Current government.

agree with you there. even during the howard years there was a lot done to foster trade links with asia. its obvious where australias economic future lies.. being china's coal and iron source has been incredibly handy and has held australia above water for a lot longer than europe in the americas in the current recession...

[Pious Agnost]

Please, New Zealand isn't Non-Authoritarian. When Australia says jump, New Zealand asks "how High?

Not even for America, the Nuclear Crisis proved that. Besides, what does that have to do with Authoritarianism?

[jankren]

Australians and Kiwis Identifying with Great Britain basically stopped when UK joined the European Community

Britain has always been part of European community considering their geographical situation ...

This might be a clever attempt at a troll, but I will bite, take the bait, hook line and sinker -- so to speak.

Huh?

He's not wrong, our old Liberal government used to be extremely anti-Asian and john Howard has publicly made Racist comments.

I didnt like John Coward but Im unaware of his connection with racism.

btw jankren -- Crusader State is a cheap shot and not worthy of your abilities.

Wiki the word 'Metaphor'.

Lol wut. I thought Aussie and NZ are on there own continent. Besides like boff said, theres the culture. ASEAN, bah, a poor excuse of an org, cant even get its act straighten up on Burma. Should have continued with SEATO.

Yeah I think Southeast Asia and Oceania should merge and form a new continent. I mean why are we Southeast Asians lumped together with Arabs, Indians, Persians, Mongolians, Afghans, Chinese, or Japanese into a huge continent called Asia?

They are Pacific Ocean... I think south east and south asian should be the same group since they are brown race, while east asian are differnt race.

Lol, what? Indonesians arent the same as Indians just because we are brown.

Australia and New Zealand are not even geographically a part of Asia, less so culturally. So no, they have no business being branded as a part of Asia. But what does it matter either way?

I personally think it matters because I believe geographical categorization may help strengthening regional 'group feeling' which could increases economic and political solidarity.

Worth noting that the natives of Australia aren't even remotely Asian.

What is an Asian? Just to give some perspective native Americans are Mongoloid people so they are technically Asians as well. Therefore Mexico is an Asian country yes?

Thats not even remotely racist, but what do you expect from Jankren?

Lol, look who is talking. Im not the one who is an avid visitor of Stormfront.

Besides, I didnt say anything about John Coward and racism. Read the orignal post first before making a comment.

Australia and New Zealand are culturally European and thus will never be Asian.

Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt are culturally Middle Eastern thus will never be African. But OOPS! ... THEY ARE AFRICAN.

I have the highest level of doubt that Australia has adopted anything resembling Asian culture in any way shape or form that I'm just going to outright say it; you are wrong or making **** up, your choice.

Burnum is a native Australian. I have the highest level of certainty he knows a lot better than you.

Besides, I know it hurts whatever aryan pride you have that Australia may be influenced by subhuman Asian culture. But still calm down, ese.

[Misery]

Yeah I think Southeast Asia and Oceania should merge and form a new continent. I mean why are we Southeast Asians lumped together with Arabs, Indians, Persians, Mongolians, Afghans, Chinese, or Japanese into a huge continent called Asia?

As Europe is linked to Asia, white people drew the line and said everything on this side is white and everything on that side is colored... we will call it Asia.

That's why Australia is Western country (its white) not Asian country (not so white)

[Fluttershy]

Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt are culturally Middle Eastern thus will never be African. But OOPS! ... THEY ARE AFRICAN

you do realise that what you said doesent really make sense... Australia is culturally europeon and also not located in Asia... How can they be asian?

[Fiyenyaa]

As Europe is linked to Asia, white people drew the line and said everything on this side is white and everything on that side is colored... we will call it Asia.

That's why Australia is Western country (its white) not Asian country (not so white)

Not how it works at all. Western countries aren't western because of race - for example, Japan is a western country. Plus, most western countries have parts of their population which are not white. Do they count as being 'western'?

[Pious Agnost]

It's not that we've abandoned our connections with Great Britain, its that Great Britain used and abandoned us. It started with Winston Churchill in WW2 who believed that Australians should be more loyal to the Empire then to their own country. Australians and Kiwis Identifying with Great Britain basically stopped when UK joined the European Community, many considered it a great betrayal, they shed blood for the UK in their wars and this how the British repay them?

It's ironic "our" convict heritage made us more flexible in foreign relations ( I put it in quotation marks, because specifically I don't have a convict heritage nor am I ingrained in popular Australia culture) and we basically said " off, you s" and we turned to America and eventually Asia, to point that China and japan owns a fair share of our industry and influenced our culture to a great deal. Poor NZ, who didn't have convict heritage and basically got the shock of their lives ( they basically considered themselves the British of pacific ocean) and turned them into the bitter hippies, they are.

I suppose by hippies you mean Non-Authoritarian. Sure, if that's the way you see it .

Really, what interest do we have in becoming part of Asia? We are in no way connected to it, hell, it'd make more sense for NZ to become part of South America.

I almost fell out of my chair laughing with this one. So true! Burnum, one could not conjure a better definition for those crazy kiwis.

Bah, you're all just jealous :hmmm:

[Viking Prince]

This might be a clever attempt at a troll, but I will bite, take the bait, hook line and sinker -- so to speak.

Since it is obvious that the continent of Australia is south of the equator and asia is a bit further north. The seperation is greater than that between Africa and Europe. Asia and Europe are even closer. So it seems obvious your post has nothing to do with geography.

Perhaps a further trolling of the TWC waters can enlighten me as to the true meaning of this thread?:hmmm:

[Burnum]

This might be a clever attempt at a troll, but I will bite, take the bait, hook line and sinker -- so to speak.

He's not wrong, our old Liberal government used to be extremely anti-Asian and john Howard has publicly made Racist comments. We generally are gradually embracing China over the USA, in fact our current PM speaks perfect Mandarin.

[boofhead]

I'd like to know what Howard's racist comments were.

This 'part of Asia' thing was first expressed by PM Paul Keating (a complete cock-head) back in the early 90s, much to the horror of many.

I can see the sense in it for geographic/strategic or trade ties but that's about it. Culturally we're a world apart from the many Asian nations.

[Scar Face]

I'd like to know what Howard's racist comments were.

This 'part of Asia' thing was first expressed by PM Paul Keating (a complete cock-head) back in the early 90s, much to the horror of many.

I can see the sense in it for geographic/strategic or trade ties but that's about it. Culturally we're a world apart from the many Asian nations.

Uhh, the only thing I can remotely think of- and I'm not even sure if this was John howard- was a statement that immigrant populations need to learn to assimilate or they can piss off, because it's not their country. Thats not even remotely racist, but what do you expect from Jankren?

It's not that we've abandoned our connections with Great Britain, its that Great Britain used and abandoned us. It started with Winston Churchill in WW2 who believed that Australians should be more loyal to the Empire then to their own country. Australians and Kiwis Identifying with Great Britain basically stopped when UK joined the European Community, many considered it a great betrayal, they shed blood for the UK in their wars and this how the British repay them?

It's ironic "our" convict heritage made us more flexible in foreign relations ( I put it in quotation marks, because specifically I don't have a convict heritage nor am I ingrained in popular Australia culture) and we basically said " off, you s" and we turned to America and eventually Asia, to point that China and japan owns a fair share of our industry and influenced our culture to a great deal. Poor NZ, who didn't have convict heritage and basically got the shock of their lives ( they basically considered themselves the British of pacific ocean) and turned them into the bitter hippies, they are.

I have the highest level of doubt that Australia has adopted anything resembling Asian culture in any way shape or form that I'm just going to outright say it; you are wrong or making **** up, your choice.

[Spartan90]

I have the highest level of doubt that Australia has adopted anything resembling Asian culture in any way shape or form that I'm just going to outright say it; you are wrong or making **** up, your choice.

Huh? Dude are you even Australian? Do you realize Asia has a tremendous influence on our culture? We pride ourselves in being a multi-cultural nation, and Australians of Asian descent make up an enormous population category in our lands. I live in South-East Queensland, and I can say that there are more Asians, Indians, Turks and Brazilians in Surfers Paradise than there are of European descent.

Of bloody course part of their culture has not only been introduced, but embraced by many Australians! To say anything different shows a complete disregard of common sense.

[ThiudareiksGunthigg]

Uhh, the only thing I can remotely think of- and I'm not even sure if this was John howard- was a statement that immigrant populations need to learn to assimilate or they can piss off, because it's not their country. Thats not even remotely racist, but what do you expect from Jankren?

Then you missed that fact that back in 1988 the then Opposition Leader John Howard called for an end to multiculturalism and a reduction in immigration from Asia. When the kooky racist moron MP Pauline Hanson called for an end to Asian migration in the 1990s, the then Prime Minister Howard simply said it was healthy that people could express such views and effectively nodded and winked at the idea.

Discrimination against potential migrants merely on the basis of their skin colour is racism, pure and simple.

Of course, Asian migrants didn't forget Howard's appeal to the racist redneck vote and, when the demographic of his own electorate changed and a lot of successful Asians became voters there, they took the chance to take revenge. As a result Howard not only comprehensively lost the last election but became only the second Prime Minister in Australian history to also lose his own seat.

Asian voters helped kick Howard into the gutter of history. Neatly ironic.