Timor-Leste: Timor-Leste, the least existential Southeast Asian country, a little-known Southeast Asian country that was once unknown on the international stage. However, looking back at history, we can see that East Timor's path to independence was full of twists and turns and challenges. This article will introduce the background and history of East Timor's independence, and the roles played by China and Australia. In the 70s of the 20th century, the independence movement in East Timor gradually emerged. However, Indonesia's Suharto regime was reluctant to see East Timor independent and sought to incorporate it into Indonesia. To achieve this, Indonesia has supported the pro-Indonesian Democratic Alliance while putting pressure on other independent groups. Faced with Indonesian intervention and internal divisions, East Timor descended into civil war.
On 28 November 1975, the Revolutionary Front of East Timor declared independence. However, the Suharto regime moved quickly and sent troops to invade East Timor. Behind the Indonesian invasion, it was tacitly approved and connived at by the United States and Australia. Although Indonesia's annexation of East Timor violated international law, the United States and Australia chose to remain silent and unwilling to put pressure on Indonesia. In the struggle for East Timor's independence, China has always firmly supported East Timor's independence. After the Declaration of Independence in 1975, China recognized East Timor for the first time and put forward its position in support of the Revolutionary Front at the United Nations. Although China was limited in strength at the time and could not provide more support to East Timor, China always insisted on not recognizing Indonesia's annexation of East Timor.
In 1999, with the holding of a referendum in Timor-Leste, Timor-Leste finally achieved some autonomy. However, the turbulent situation following the referendum has created new challenges for Timor-Leste. China responded positively by providing humanitarian assistance and economic support to Timor-Leste. The Red Cross Society of China donated relief funds, and the Chinese government sent a delegation to visit East Timor and provided a large amount of gratuitous assistance. In addition, China has participated in peacekeeping operations in Timor-Leste. As a permanent member of the United Nations, China has sent peacekeeping troops to help maintain the security and stability of Timor-Leste. This action demonstrates China's image as a responsible major power and provides substantial support for East Timor's independence process.
Australia played a similar role in East Timor's independence. Although Australia is also under some pressure in public opinion, the Australian government has chosen to acquiesce in Indonesia's actions. Australia believes that maintaining good relations with Indonesia is more important than the question of East Timor. In addition, Australia has benefited from East Timor's independence and has acquired abundant oil and gas resources through the demarcation of maritime boundaries. To sum up, East Timor's path to independence was fraught with challenges, but it was ultimately successful. China and Australia played an important role in supporting and assisting East Timor's independence. However, Timor-Leste's development still faces many difficulties and challenges.
As a member of the international community, we should continue to pay attention to and support Timor-Leste in order to help it achieve stability and prosperity. Finally, I would like to ask the question, how do you think the international community should better support the development of Timor-Leste? Please leave your views and suggestions in the comments. The referendum in East Timor sparked massive riots, China supported the United Nations peacekeeping force, and Australia became a strong supporter of East Timor's independence. In order to restore peace and stability in Timor-Leste, the United Nations has decided to send a peacekeeping force.
China expressed its support for the peacekeeping operation in Timor-Leste and decided to send civilian police to Timor-Leste the day after the United Nations Security Council approved the dispatch of peacekeeping troops to Timor-Leste. From January 2000 to December 2012, China sent a total of 17 Chinese police forces totaling 319 police officers to Timor-Leste. Australia, on the other hand, has become the largest supporter of East Timor's independence by virtue of its geographical advantages and historical factors, and has provided key support for the work of the United Nations in East Timor. However, East Timor's independence and development still face a series of challenges that require the sustained attention and support of the international community.
The referendum in Timor-Leste sparked large-scale riots, and in order to restore peace and stability in Timor-Leste, the United Nations decided to send peacekeeping forces. China expressed its support for the peacekeeping operation in Timor-Leste and decided to send civilian police to Timor-Leste the day after the United Nations Security Council approved the dispatch of peacekeeping troops to Timor-Leste. From January 2000 to December 2012, China sent a total of 17 Chinese police forces totaling 319 police officers to Timor-Leste. After East Timor's independence, Australia became its biggest supporter. Australia's approach to East Timor has changed 180 degrees.
Didn't Australia acquiesce to Indonesia's annexation of East Timor? Why has it become the largest contributor to East Timor's independence? This is related to the end of the Cold War, Australia's strategic demand for Indonesia has declined, there is no longer fear that East Timor will become a "second Cuba", and attitudes towards East Timor have changed. In December 1998, Australia's attitude towards East Timor changed when Prime Minister Howard persuaded Indonesia to leave East Timor and to follow the model of French New Caledonia, which would allow autonomy before a referendum. For the sake of the "friendship" between Australia and Indonesia, Prime Minister Howard did not directly mention East Timor's independence.
Indonesia agreed to decide the future of East Timor through a referendum because in 1969 Papua (now Iriancha Province) on the island of Irian was the result of Indonesia's manipulation of the referendum to become part of Indonesia, and this time Indonesia did the same. As the situation in East Timor changed and Indonesia was unable to sustain itself, Papua's routine was forced to agree to a referendum in August 1999 before it could be implemented. Australia has also become a staunch supporter of East Timorese independence. Australia, with its geographical advantages and historical factors, has provided critical support to the work of the United Nations in Timor-Leste.
According to a May 1999 agreement between Indonesia, Portugal and the United Nations, the principle that the referendum in Timor-Leste should be held under United Nations supervision prevented Indonesia from rigging the vote. In June, the UN Security Council authorized the establishment of the United Nations Mission in Timor-Leste (UNAMET) to organize and monitor the referendum in Timor-Leste.
The total contribution to the Mission was $46 million, with Australia contributing $20 million as the largest contributor; Australia is a major source of personnel and materiel for the Mission; The Australian city of Darwin became a logistical and training base for UN agencies; The vast majority of UN-recruited volunteers in Timor-Leste to oversee voting are from Australia; Of the 275 officers in UNAMET, 38 are from Australia, including the Chief of Police; For the 30 August elections, Australia provided the Mission with a large number of vehicles. It can be said that the work of the United Nations Mission in Timor-Leste cannot function properly without Australia's support.
After the outbreak of riots in East Timor, the United Nations decided to send peacekeepers to East Timor, authorizing the peacekeeping force to use all force to maintain peace in East Timor, of which 8,000 peacekeeping forces, Australian troops accounted for 4,500 people. In May 2002, after the independence of East Timor, Australia also re-signed the Timor Sea Treaty with East Timor, Australia gave East Timor 90% of the oil and gas resources in the middle sea area that was originally divided equally between the two sides, and the remaining 10% went to Australia.
As an agrarian country, Timor-Leste has no industry, backward agricultural production, and oil revenues account for about 80 per cent of its total GDP, which is the most important source of revenue for the Government of Timor-Leste. Australia's support is important for Timor-Leste, but Timor-Leste also faces a number of challenges. Due to the long period of Indonesian colonial rule, Timor-Leste's infrastructure and economic development are relatively lagging behind, and the problems of poverty and unemployment in the country are prominent. In addition, Timor-Leste needs to resolve issues such as territorial disputes and national reconciliation. The international community should continue to pay attention to and support the independence and development of Timor-Leste and help it build a stable and prosperous country. In short, the independence and development of Timor-Leste have received strong support from countries such as Australia.
Australia not only provided critical support before and after the referendum, but also continued to assist East Timor's economic development after independence. However, Timor-Leste still faces many challenges that require the sustained attention and support of the international community. As an emerging country, Timor-Leste needs to strengthen cooperation with neighboring countries to promote regional stability and development. The international community should help Timor-Leste to resolve the problems it faces and to promote its sustainable development and national reconciliation. What is your view on the independence and development of East Timor? How do you think the international community can better support Timor-Leste?