ABSTRACT
In September 1967, an eminent group of economists and International Relations scholars gathered in Canberra, Australia to discuss the prospects for another triangular relationship – one comprising Australia, India and Japan. The papers from this conference were subsequently published in a volume edited by J. D. B. Miller, who was at the time Professor of International Relations at the Australian National University.1 In the volume’s concluding chapter Miller identified five factors which, according to historical experience, facilitate cooperation of a meaningful and continuous nature between states. These factors were similarity of cultural background, economic equality (or lack of economic inequality), the habit of association in past international enterprises, a sense of common danger, and pressure from a greater power.2 This chapter applies Miller’s five ‘conditions for cooperation’ to the Trilateral Strategic Dialogue (TSD) partners. It finds that, while the United States, Japan and Australia have much in common and are in many respects ‘natural allies’, the obstacles to any further intensification of their trilateral endeavours remain significant. In line with Miller’s prescient predictions of 1968 regarding the Australia-Japan-India triangular relationship, therefore, the chapter concludes that these obstacles to collaboration should not be underestimated.
