Year 10: Trade: ASEAN members start moves to harmonize policies | BusinessWorld Online Edition

1. What is the goal of this ASEAN meeting? 
The goal of this ASEAN metting was to embark on annual meetings to improve and harmonize trade and investment policies as the bloc pursues an intergrated regional economy by 2015.
2. What is ERIA? What do they intend to do? 
The ERIA is the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia and they intend to draw up plans to review the scorecard for 2015 ASEAN Economic Community to help countries indentify commitments that will deliver the best results towards intergration. 
3. What is AEC? What do they intend to do? 
The AEC is the ASEAN Economic Community and they intend to help countried identify commitments that will deliver the best results towards intergration. 
4. What are the three key areas of focus? 
The three key areas are trade and transport, services and investment faciliation. 
5. How often does this group plan to meet? 
They would hold the diologue once a year.
6. What do they intend to keep in their "knowledge bank"? 
They intend to keep possible tools members can use to pursue effective reforms and also bank data of all regulatory reforms ASEAN members have made. 
7. Who was the chairman of the meeting? What is his title? What is the population and GDP of his country? 
How does it compare to Australia? 
The chairman of the meeting is Date Lim Jock Hoi and his title is Brunei Ministry of Foreign Affairs permanent secretary. The population of Brunei is 400,000 and the GDP is $US 11.47 billion. This compares to Australias population of 22,000,000 with a GDP of $US 924.84 billion. 
8. What do you think that economic integration means?  
I think economic integration means that trade is fair between the different states of the country such as between Queensland and NSW. This would allow all tarrifs and taxes which are placed upon trade between the states to be removed and make it easier to trade within the country. 
9. Do you think that this is good or bad for Australia?
I think this is great as it allows trade to be moved between and throughout the country for a lower price and therefore passing the savings onto the people which will use and buy the products. It will also make it better for the economy as there would be more trade throughout the country and prompting more economic 

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Year 10: Military - China

1. What does the authour mean when he says that there is a 'strategic shadow' that looms over everything? How does this relate to the US?
   
   The author means that this relates to the US President decision to pull out of troops in Afghanistan  more quickly than his generals want. Ever since he was elected, Obama has wanted to pivot away from the endless miseries of the Middle East and Central Asia
2. What does the author propose regarding uranium sales to India?
   
   
   December's Labor Party had conference to end the ban on Australian uranium sales to India. This is about the strategic relationship with India.
   
   
3. What mistakes does the author say that Gillard has made in the region?
   
   The author said that On illegal immigrants coming by boat, her East Timor solution, the premature announcement of the Malaysian people-swap deal, and the abrupt suspension of the live cattle trade with Indonesia, were all the mistakes made by Gillard against public service advice.
4. How has China save us from these mistakes?
   
   Southeast Asians are so concerned by China's massive militarisation, and its aggressive actions in the South China Sea and East China Sea, that they are cleaving close to the US, and close to us as well.
5. What does the quote 'cleaving close to the US and close to us' mean?
   
   the quote "cleaving close to the US and close to us', means that China is slowly bonding with these countries.
6. What has China forced regarding coordination between Australia and the US?
   
   China lies behind the negotiations by Australian and US defence officials for much greater US military involvement in northern Australia. This will mean much more frequent visits by US warships and aircraft to the north, much more frequent joint exercising with our forces and the pre-positioning of US materiel.
7. Who will be conducting the Australia Defense Force Posture review? What were their former posts in the government?
   
   The Australian Defence Force Posture Review will be conducted by two former heads of the Defence Department, Allan Hawke and Ric Smith.
   
8. What five areas will they focus on?
   
   The inquiry will examine five elements of security: the rise of the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean rim as regions of global strategic significance; the growth of military power projection capabilities in the Asia Pacific; the need for disaster relief in the region; and "energy security and security issues.
9. What does the author suggest is the most important part of the review? Why?
   
   The offshore area from Darwin west to the Pilbara is one of the greatest resource-rich areas anywhere on the planet. And yet it abuts a part of Australia that is all but depopulated and without onshore infrastructure, including military infrastructure.
10. What does having a stronger military presence in the north of Australia do for the future? More or less conflict? Why?
    
    Making it less vulnerable will stronger military presence in the north of Australia for the future. 
11. How is China leading an arms race in the Asia Pacific?
    
    China lead an arms race in the Asia Pacific and Its expansion of their military.
12. In 2008, what did Rudd predict for military spending in the region?
    
    Rudd said Australia needed to be prepared for "huge increases in military spending" here in our own region. He said that "We must make sure we have the right mix of capabilities to deal with any contingencies that might arise in the future."
13. How did Brendan Nelson and Malcolm Turnbull get it wrong regarding China and Rudd get it right?
    The Liberals under Brendan Nelson and Malcolm Turnbull consistently got China wrong. Turnbull, as opposition leader, said of the white paper that it made "no sense for Australia to base its long-term strategic policy on the highly contentious proposition that we are on an inevitable collision course with a militarily aggressive China".