Hugh White (strategist)

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"For more than a century, [the US] has contributed to peace and order, to economic development, to political evolution, and to science, technology and art around the world – and all these contributions have been nothing short of exceptional", Hugh White. [12]

In The China Choice, White argues the Vietnam War ultimately benefited the Asian region because it demonstrated the lengths the US would go to secure its supremacy over China. White has argued publicly that Australia needs to dramatically increase its maritime capabilities in order for Australia to avoid becoming a small power in Asia. [13]

In more recent times White advocated for a reconsideration of the Abbott government's preference for a deal with Japan for the construction of Australia's next generation submarine fleet. The basis for his belief was the negative implications on Australia-China relations, so he instead advocated for deals with France or Germany. [14] White has also been critical of the Rudd and Gillard government's escalation of Australian involvement in the War in Afghanistan which he argues resulted in increased casualties. He was also critical of Prime Minister Tony Abbott's reliance on national security during his term of office. [15]

White believes that Australia is a key player in the Asian region, but that Australian governments routinely believe Chinese governments are preoccupied with economic interests when China is determined to redistribute regional power in its favour.

"Australia seems to have acquired quite a prominent place in regional power politics, as shown by the way Obama, Xi, Modi and Abe have all come here to deliver big geopolitical speeches. It would be unwise to believe that the Chinese do not care about Australia's position on Asia's great strategic questions", White, 2014 [16]

Criticism

White has most often been criticised for his bullish outlook in defence matters, especially in relation to armaments. Writing in the Australian Review, political scientist Graham Cheeseman argued the authors of the 2000 Defence White Paper was "more about politics than policy, driven in large measure by the desires and vested interests of the major actors within the defence establishment and those, primarily within industry and government, who stand to gain from the $160 billion to be spent on Australia’s defence over the coming decade". He also believed the White Paper was much more aggressive than its preoccupation with peaceful solutions was designed to suggest. [17] This same criticism was taken up by ASPI commentator Peter Jennings. [18] A strategist at the University of New South Wales at the Australian Defence Force Academy, James Goldrick, argued in 2015 that White's bellicosity must be measured against the price of war, stating that "[w]hat we have to be sure [about] is that the end justifies the means". [19]

Other commentators have argued that White exaggerates the threat posed by China in the Asian region. Professor Paul Dibb from the Australian National University argued that White has overstated the ability of China to assert its power. [20]

Awards and recognition

White was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in the 2014 Queen's Birthday Honours for "distinguished service to international affairs, through strategic defence studies as an analyst, academic and adviser to government, and to public administration". [21]

In 2020 White was elected a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia. [22]

In February 2022 White was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Letters [D.Litt] by ANU for his 'contributions to the study of international affairs, strategic studies and defence issues as an analyst, academic, public servant and adviser to government'.[ citation needed ]

Bibliography

Professor

Hugh White

AO FASSA
Born1953 (age 69–70)
Australia
Occupation(s) Government Official
Strategist
Academic
Journalist
Known for Australian Defence Policy
Australia-US-China relations
Academic background
Alma mater University of Oxford
University of Melbourne

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References

  1. 1 2 Professor Hugh White, Researchers, ANU
  2. ↑ "Hugh White calls for rekindling of nuclear weapons debate". ABC Radio. 2 July 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  3. ↑ Alexander, Harriet (1 July 2019). "Nuclear arsenal must be on Australia's agenda, argues defence expert". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  4. ↑ Defence 2000: Our Future Defence Force (2000 Defence White Paper) – Parliament of Australia
  5. ↑ Hugh White, The China Choice (2010)
  6. ↑ The Power Index: thinkers, defence strategist Hugh White at #7 – Crikey
  7. ↑ "Hugh White Archive". The Strategist. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  8. ↑ Jane Perlez, "Hugh White on 'The China Choice'," New York Times, 16 October 2013
  9. ↑ Gideon Rachman, "Search for a Safer Path in the Race for Asia", Financial Times, 18 August 2013
  10. ↑ Ian Johnson, "Dreams of a Different China", New York Review of Books, 21 November 2013
  11. ↑ America or China: one day, we will have to choose
  12. ↑ Hugh White, The China Choice, p. 109.
  13. ↑ Sharp criticism levelled against Australian defence white paper, Connect Asia, ABC Radio Australia
  14. ↑ If we strike a deal with Japan, we're buying more than submarines
  15. ↑ Tony Abbott's preoccupation with national security dangerous, The Age
  16. ↑ Hugh White: Why I Was Wrong on China FTA, The Australian
  17. ↑ Cheeseman, Graeme (July 2001). "The Howard Government's Defence White Paper: Policy, Process and Politics" (PDF). The Drawing Board: An Australian Review of Public Affairs. 2 (1): 11–26. ISSN   1443-8607.
  18. ↑ The uses and abuses of defence white papers, The Strategist
  19. ↑ The future of maritime conflict—a response to Hugh White, The Strategist
  20. ↑ Should the US learn to share power with China? ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
  21. ↑ "Professor Hugh John White". It's An Honour. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  22. ↑ "38 Leading Social Scientists elected as Academy Fellows". Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia. 10 November 2020. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  23. ↑ How to Defend Australia by Hugh White. 17 December 2018.
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