Aus opposition leader foresees an 'Asian Century'

Abbott expressed his opinion on what many term as the coming of the 'Asian century' at his address at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, and said he believed this would bode well for the US as an Asia-Pacific power.

He said as economic empowerment comes to billions of people in China, India, Indonesia and other parts of Asia, the 'Asian century' will prove to be a "vindication" of Western values, rather than its "repudiation".

The century, he said, would also bode well for the US which is an Asia-Pacific power, as also for India and Japan.

Abbott, who is in the US along with a host of other Australian MPs for the American-Australian leadership dialogue, also advised the United States to deal with the rise of Asian powers with more confidence.

In the US, he criticised Australia's defence cuts, and said a Coalition government would seek efficiencies in defence spending.

Criticising Australian policy before the US's most prominent conservative think tank, Abbott backed the criticism raised by former US secretary of state, Richard Armitage that Australia was taking a free ride on the US and risking its credibility as an ally.

"Certainly the last thing we want to do is dismay our friends and allies at what is for everyone a difficult time," he said, in remarks that were slammed by Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

Gillard said Abbott had reached a new low in negativity in his criticism of Defence spending cuts, by trashing Australia's security credentials.

Abbott described the US as "family", saying Australia and America were so close that, "few Australians would regard America as a foreign country", but said that the two sides' national interest might not always be identical.

"We are more than allies, we're family. Around the world we seek no privileges, ask no favours, crave no territory," he said. He further said that the relationship was not cause for Australia not to pursue regional ties.

"Australia doesn't have to choose between our neighbours and our friends because our neighbours are also our friends and because our best friends are increasingly at home in our neighbourhood," he said, according to a report in 'The Age'.

America should not take Australian support for granted, he said.

"Our values, though, invariably coincide and Australia's foreign policy should be driven as much by our values as by our interests," he refereed.

"Over the past decade, there's been much 'expert' advice that Australia would be a better ally by ostentatiously refusing to participate in America's so-called follies, such as Iraq and Afghanistan," he said.

However, he reaffirmed his support for the recent wars Australia has followed the US into.