Role and Threat: An Assessment of Australia's South China Sea Policy Amid Great Power Rivalry

Despite having no territorial claim in the South China Sea, why has Australia publicly voiced concerns? What factors led to the shift in its South China Sea policy during the 2010s? By integrating role theory with the balance of threat theory and analyzing official documents, I argue that Australia's role conception in the South China Sea and its perception of the "China threat" have primarily shaped its policy on this issue. Driven by its assertive actor role, Australia has felt obligated to take positions on disputed events. An intensified perception of China as a threat has led Australia to adopt a more confrontational posture, bringing it into closer alignment with the United States. This case study of Australia's South China Sea policy illustrates the broader dynamics of how regional countries navigate the complexities of great power competition. It highlights that alignment reformulation arises not only from external pressures but also from ideational factors.