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The recent remarks from Singapore’s leader has provoked a defence of Australia’s national identity by Prime Minister John Howard. Goh Chok Tong, the nation’s Prime Minister, said Australia would not be considered part of the Asian region until its population became more than 50 percent Asian. Singapore also denied the suggestions, and a statement issued by the Singapore high commission in Canberra insisted the comments were taken out of context. That followed the threat by now-retired Malaysian leader Mahathir Mohammed’s to treat Australia as a terrorist state if it tried to act as a regional security sheriff for the United States. John Howard said that we don’t seek some kind of rating from anybody as far as our position in the region is concerned. Australia would never define its