Australia East Timor Border Conflict - Free Samples to Students

Question: Discuss about the Australia East Timor Border Conflict. Answer: Introduction: By and large, the border disagreement between Australia and East Timor is very important and controversial. Mainly, this is due to the fact the pre-existing relationship between the two neighboring countries. Before the beginning of the border dispute, Australia had taken keen interest in helping the country regain its peace during the Indonesian-led violence. At this time, it was thought that Australia extended its help to Timor in good faith, but now it appears as though it had vested interest in the countrys oil reserves (Henriss, 2015). However, it turns out that East Timors oil has long been Australias weakness and managed to short-change its neighbor out of billions of dollars of government revenue. Both nations claim an interest in the lucrative Greater Sunrise gas field (Strating, 2016). Indeed, this aspect makes the disagreement contentious. Additionally, the fact that the conflict creates considerable implications for Timors future security and viability as an independent s tate makes the border disagreement controversial management. It is worth pointing out that Australia actions before and during the border conflicts reflects cruelty and greed. Particularly, the nation undertook premeditated moves after Timor gained independence to ensure it gains an upper hand in disputes arising on the oil field. As such, Australia withdrew from compulsory jurisdiction of international courts and tribunals on matters relating to maritime boundary delimitation. As a result. Timor cannot take any legal claims to a third-party arbitrator and is forced to negotiate with Australia (Strating, 2016). One may argue that the withdrawal was premeditated in preparation for the dispute, long before the border conflict began. All along, Australia disguised itself as a concerned neighbor while setting its eyes on Timors lucrative resources. Reference List Henriss, C. (2015). I thought Australia wanted to help East Timor, not take its oil. [Online] ABC News. Available at: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-21/henriss-address-the-oil-injustice/6790978 [Accessed 21 Mar. 2018]. Strating, R. (2016). What you need to know about Timor-Leste and Australia's sea border fight. [Online] The Conversation. Available at: https://theconversation.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-timor-leste-and-australias-sea-border-fight-67377 [Accessed 21 Mar. 2018].