Chinese President Xi Jinping has warned against “interference from external forces” within the region, as Australia shrugged off Beijing’s growing anger about its decision to accumulate US nuclear-powered submarines, and promised to defend the rule of law in airspace and waters where China has staked hotly contested claims.
In an address before the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) on Friday, Xi urged heads of state to “absolutely resist external forces to interfere [in] countries in our region at any excuse, and hold the longer term of our countries’ development and progress firmly in our own hands His comments followed the announcement of the us , uk and Australia to make a security and defence partnership, and Australia’s decision to shop for nuclear-powered submarines from the US.
China’s state-owned publication Global Times also described Australia as “a pawn of the US” and called it “naive” for financing “America’s conflict gambit Australia could face the foremost dangerous consequence of being fresh fish within the event of a military showdown within the region.”
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, however, argued on Friday that China has its own “very substantive programme of nautilus building They have every right to require decisions in their national interests for his or her defence arrangements and in fact , so does Australia and every one other countries,” he said in an interview with station 2GB In a series of media interviews, Morrison said his government was reacting to changing dynamics within the Asia-Pacific region, where territory is increasingly contested and competition is rising.
‘Rule of law’
Morrison said Australia is “very aware” of China’s nautilus capabilities and growing military investment, he told Channel Seven television We have an interest in ensuring that high sea are always high sea and international skies are international skies, which the rule of law applies equally altogether of those places,” he said Australia wanted to make sure that there have been no “no-go zones” in areas governed by law of nations , Morrison said That’s vital whether it’s for trade, whether it’s for things like undersea cables, for planes and where they will fly. I mean that’s the order that we’d like to preserve. that’s what peace and stability provides for which is what we are seeking to realize .”
Australia’s decision has also angered France, which lost an deal , but the most backdrop to the Australia-US-UK alliance is China’s rise China has claimed most of the territories within the South China Sea, defying a 2016 decision by the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague declaring it as without legal basis.
It has also built artificial islands within the South China Sea and constructed massive runways and shipping docks, while also reportedly installing missile systems on the Spratly Islands It has rejected competing claims from Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam within the South China Sea China has also imposed tough trade sanctions on a variety of Australian products, widely seen in Australia as a reaction to Canberra’s opposition to Chinese investment in sensitive areas and its questioning of the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic, also because the alleged rights abuses in Hong Kong and Xinjiang.
‘The forever partnership’
Morrison said the new defence alliance, prepared in 18 months of discussions with the US and UK, are going to be permanent It involves a really significant commitment not just today but forever. that’s why I ask it because the forever partnership. it’s one which will see Australia kept secure and safe into the longer term ,” he said Australia’s defence spending will rise, Morrison said, because the new alliance also requires greater investment in cyber capabilities, AI , quantum technologies and undersea capabilities.
Morrison told Australian media that the defence alliance had been “well-received” in his discussions thus far with leaders in Japan, India, Singapore, New Zealand, Fiji and Papua New Guinea Indonesia’s government said it took note “cautiously” of the agreement Indonesia is deeply concerned over the continuing race and power projection within the region,” the foreign ministry added during a statement.
Speaking during a visit to Washington for talks together with his US counterparts, Australian Defence Minister Peter Dutton was even more dismissive of the reaction by some Chinese officials and government-backed media to the deal, describing it as “counterproductive and immature and admittedly embarrassing Dutton said Australia was willing to host more US Marines on rotation through the northern city of Darwin and wanted to ascertain air capability enhanced.
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