Desmond Ball

Strategic Culture in the Asia-Pacific Region

This article is based on a paper prepared for a Workshop on Comparative Perceptions of National Security, organized by the Australia-Asian Perceptions Project, Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia (ASSA), Canberra, 30 November–4 December 1992.

Revising the SIOP Taking War-Fighting to Dangerous Extremes

During the preparation of this article, the authors conducted interviews with many of the principals involved in the recent development of U.S. strategic nuclear employment policies and plans. These included senior civilian officials and military officers from the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy in the Department of Defense, the National Security Council (NSC), the Strategic Air Command (SAC), and the Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (OJCS). Material in this article for which sources are not otherwise cited was obtained in these interviews.

The Ties That Bind: Intelligence Cooperation between the UKUSA Countries

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Silent Witness: Australian Intelligence and East Timor

The events in East Timor leading up to and immediately following the vote for independence from Indonesia in September 1999, and the attendant breach in Australian-Indonesian relations, posed the greatest challenge to the Australian intelligence agencies and the national security policymaking organization in more than a quarter of a century. On the whole, the intelligence agencies performed very well, producing timely, accurate and informative reports, with the important exception being the under-estimation of the scale of the killings and forced deportations in the fortnight after 4 September, 1999. However, there were serious deficiencies in the national security policy-making organization, and elements of the intelligence community succumbed to political pressures when the Government found some of the intelligence about Indonesian involvement in planning and directing the violence to be unpalatable.

Track 2 Security Dialogue in the Asia-Pacific: Reflections and Future Directions

Abstract This article critically reviews the literature on Track 2 security dialogue in the Asia‐Pacific and suggests a number of possible avenues for further research. From almost a standing start, Track 2 security dialogue in this part of the world has burgeoned over the past decade and a half. As these institutions and activities have grown, so too has a body of scholarship grown around them which has striven to stay abreast of them and – at least in the case of some of the more prominent second track institutions and activities – to evaluate their influence and effectiveness. Just as viable second track processes must constantly adapt in response to changes in the regional and global security environment, however, this article contends that the scholarship on Track 2 security dialogue needs now to evolve beyond its heavy emphasis upon on the “success” of these institutions and activities. While this criterion remains vital, the article argues that greater analytical attention should also be given to differentiating between the many and varied Track 2 security processes that are currently active in the Asia-Pacific; to developing a closer understanding as to the operating modalities of these institutions and activities; and to better comprehending longitudinal trends in regional Track 2 security dialogue.

Australia and cyber-warfare

This book explores Australia’s prospective cyber-warfare requirements and challenges. It describes the current state of planning and thinking within the Australian Defence Force with respect to Network Centric Warfare, and discusses the vulnerabilities that accompany the use by Defence of the National Information Infrastructure (NII), as well as Defence’s responsibility for the protection of the NII. It notes the multitude of agencies concerned in various ways with information security, and argues that mechanisms are required to enhance coordination between them. It also argues that Australia has been laggard with respect to the development of offensive cyber-warfare plans and capabilities. Finally, it proposes the establishment of an Australian Cyber-warfare Centre responsible for the planning and conduct of both the defensive and offensive dimensions of cyber-warfare, for developing doctrine and operational concepts, and for identifying new capability requirements. It argues that the matter is urgent in order to ensure that Australia will have the necessary capabilities for conducting technically and strategically sophisticated cyber-warfare activities by the 2020s.

The Defence of East Timor: A Recipe For Disaster?

The establishment of the East Timor Defence Force (ETDF) is proceeding expeditiously and creditably. By 2004-2005 East Timor will have a small but proficient light infantry force. But it will be expensive to maintain, and its strategic rationale is dubious. Such a force is not very well designed for addressing the conceivable (but improbable) military threats that East Timor might face. Maritime surveillance, patrol and enforcement capabilities are deficient. East Timors security is much more likely to be endangered by its economic, social and political problems becoming unmanageable. Unfortunately, a major opportunity cost of the investment in the ETDF could well be a failure of the police, immigration, customs and judicial systems to cope with domestic and transnational crime; inadequate transportation and communications infrastructure, educational facilities, and commercial enterprises for sound economic development; and ultimately an incapacity for civil governance. The coordination of policies on the whole range of security challenges facing East Timor will be crucially important. Australias contribution should be more balanced and less militarised.

Can a Sino-Japanese War Be Controlled?

In a crisis, a limited exchange of fire could escalate into a wider conflict. We have no precedent to suggest how dangerous it might become.

Australian Defence Planning: Problems and Prospects

Extraordinary events in Asia (such as the East Timor experience) have challenged Australias defence strategy and demanded an urgent policy review. Rapid strategic change has highlighted the critical importance of lateral thinking and readiness to analyse alternative scenarios based on reliable intelligence. It has brought into relief the complacent attitude towards the US alliance and the defence spending. The new regional security environment has also highlighted the importance of Australias proactive engagement with the region for promoting arms control and stability.

A Regional Regime for Maritime Surveillance, Safety and Information Exchanges

A maritime surveillance, safety and information regime is proposed, to address lower profile security issues in East Asia. Its objectives would be to help safeguard the peaceful merchant shipping of the region; to create a secure context for the sustained exploitation of the resources of the sea; to contribute to the preservation of the marine environment; and to develop a framework of cooperation that could provide the basis for dealing with higher order contingencies that might arise in this rapidly developing region.It is suggested that the regime could best be established by a series of modest steps dealing with non-controversial matters. Measures suggested include the establishment of networks of cooperation to implement regulations (such as the proposed port-state control network for control of shipping), involving government agencies, commercial groups and regional navies; setting up a database to coordinate and distribute throughout the region open-sourced strategic maritime information; extending...