Australian election frontrunner Tony Abbott Wednesday vowed Asia will be his main foreign policy focus if he assumes office.

The conservative Abbott's diplomatic credentials came under fire this week after he said the Syria conflict was "baddies versus baddies."

His first travel priorities would be Indonesia, China, Japan and South Korea, he said in an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald, the flagship paper of Fairfax Media whose chairman declared his support for the conservative.

"Only after our regional and trading partners have been suitably attended to would I make the traditional trips to Washington and London," Abbot said.