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psychology, anthropology andbiology.

Politics is key to regulatory andinstitutional change in Asia. Theessence of responsive regulation isshaping the flow of events to secureoutcomes that are inclusive anddemocracy enhancing, as well aseffective and efficient.

When lndonesia democratisedand decentralised legal authorityregional governments were temptedinto a regulatory race to the bottomin incomeproducing sectors suchas forests and fisheries. WhileBurmas military leadership permitselections and raises citizen hopes fora functioning state, its bureaucracylacks capacity in service delivery,transparency and routine modesof accountability. What role willAustralia play? Having influencein these spaces means not simplytechnocratic knowledge but havingcredibility that comes from politicalunderstanding.

As Chinas economy grows, andg; its outbound investment increases.T; China seeks to be a standard-if maker in areas such as computersoftware and IT services, intellectualpropertyenforcement, and theVsupply ofChinesemade products asacondition of Chinese investment.

i1 hgalism in the 1990s as it actively

vers, accountants, engineers,tects, aid professionals, policeintelligence officers who are

- ly knowledgeable about one orwmber of countries and uent in%st one Asian language. They

A Japanese and SingaporeanT iterpartsas they develop the

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interpersonal networks that willinuenceregulatorydecision-makingin the region. Where are they? Wehave plentyofAsiaspecialistscrestingin their careers a kind of nationaldividend from the Asia literacy pushin the HawkeKeating era. Within10 years, however, our comparativeadvantage in Asian law and inJapanese and Indonesian politics,economics, law and regulation willbe gone.

A necessary first stepis to ensure that we havea generation ofAustralianprofessionals who can,

literally, speak their language.

Asian language competence isno longer a national priority. Weseem to have regressed from aclever country expectation thatan educated Australian should beuent in an Asian (and preferablyalso a European) language, to a tacitacceptance that monolingualism isthe new normal. That comforting,but false, story meshes neatly withchoices not to go the hard route ofbecoming professionally uent in anAsian language.

Austra|ias Engagement with Asia "

Language is not a substitute forknowledge and skills, but it is a toolfor acquiring them. How can weunderstand much less inuence Chinas energy efficiency, ]apansnuclear industry, Thai1ands politicaluncertainty, Burmas healthcare,Indonesias human trafficking orMalaysias asylum policy withoutthe benefit of deep local knowledgeacquired though local languages?

Our regulatory future in Asia ismore complex than we currentlyrecognise. The only way to navigatethis complexity is to move forwardwith Asian partners in dialogue andin collaborative shaping of regula-tory institutions at the nationaland international level. A necessaryfirst step in accomplishing this is toensure that we have a generation ofAustralian professionals who can literally speak their language.

Veronica L. Tayloris Professor, Reg-ulatory Institutions Network (RegNet),and Director, School of Regulation,justice and Diplomacy, the AustralianNational University.

2012 Professor Veronica L.Tay|or.Posted 30 April 2012.

East Asia Forum | www.eastasiaforum.org