Why NMD is good for Asia

CANBERRA -- There have been many objections to America's plan for a national missile defense system.

There are, however, several reasons why Australia might consider supporting the concept of NMD and why it might prove to be a good thing for stability in the Asia-Pacific region.

Australia, Japan, South Korea and like-minded democracies in the Asia-Pacific region need a United States that is confident in its ability to lead. Our collective security rests, ultimately, on the strength and resolve of U.S. leadership and the superiority of its military technology. For all its faults, the U.S. is the only country in the world that has the ability and can be trusted to play a strong leadership role. This is not a prescription for haphazard American intervention, as Chinese opponents to NMD have argued. On the contrary, the problem will continue to be a one of overcoming U.S. reluctance to intervene because it fears the consequences.