Below is an excellent summing up of the 2 day Australia-US Ministerial (AUSMIN) talks (ending July 28, 2020) by Asia-Pacific
Defence Reporter (APDR)
"AUSMIN Talks Conclude With Australia Saying It Charts Its Own Course"
"The annual AUSMIN talks between the United
States and Australia wrapped up on [July 28, 2020] with the two allies reaffirming
their close ties but with Australia saying it goes its own way when it comes to
dealing with China, which is a major trade partner for Australia. Australia’s
Foreign Minister Marise Payne and Defence Minister Linda Reynolds flew to the
US to meet with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of Defence Mark
Esper. The talks focused on growing tensions with China, conducting further
exercises in the South China Sea and the two sides discussed a US-funded
military fuel reserve scheduled to be built in Darwin."
Australia’s Foreign Minister Marise Payne [in a special "flag
camouflage" uniform ] and Mike Pompeo. (PHOTO: Pool handout)
"China was the main focus of the talks and both parties criticised China for its recent crackdown on Hong Kong and both sides agreed to work to counter state-backed disinformation campaigns. The Australian side however, pushed back against US efforts to force Australia to conduct assertive freedom-of-navigation exercises [FONOPS Pete link] in the South China Sea. Australia’s Reynolds told reporters such exercises were “subject of discussion” but that “our approach remains consistent, we will continue to transit through the region in accordance with international law”. Payne went a step further and said while Australia had much in common with the US, “we make our decisions, our own judgements in the Australian national interest and about upholding our security, our prosperity and our values.” Australia is set to host the annual AUSMIN talks in 2021...."
See WHOLE APDR Article which includes "AUSMIN 2020 Global Health Security Statement".
2 comments:
Wise decision by Australia not agreeing to FONOP. Chinese vessels will ram the Australian boats - then what do we do?
Militarily, Australia is in no position to escalate. If you wish to poke the Chinese Dragon you have to be prepared to go all the way.
Australia should decouple from over reliance on the Chinese economy. We should follow the Singapore model. Singapore understands Chinese economic coercive methods and from day one limit themselves from over exposure to the Chinese in any particular sector of its economy. For example, Singapore limits Chinese tourism to a fixed annual quota unlike Australia which went in with its eyes closed in tourism and education. Naturally it will come back to bite us.
Brumby
Hi Brumby
Indeed Australia's foreign affairs/defence establishment are wise that they keep to the no-FONOPs policy.
China has a long memory - with a multi-year resentment likely to last longer than the US's current military superiority in China's "near seas" (Western Pacific/East Asian) region.
Even if Biden wins on November 3rd, 2020 the US defence presence in the region is likely to be dominant for less than 10 years.
- The Russian threat will again attract US military attention back to Europe and central Asia
- as will renewed US commitments in the Middle East within the next 5 years.
Hence the US will not be able to exert dominant power projection in the Western Pacific/East Asia. This will allow China to dominate its smaller near seas/land regional commitment.
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On Australia emulating Singapore's lower reliance on trade with China, it boils down to Japan, India, SK and Taiwan etc, actively wanting to trade at a higher volume with Australia and also willing to invest heavily in Austrlia.
- Japan used to be THE top trade partner but a long term economic downturn in the J economy (since before 2000) means Australia can't sell to J at the same iron ore/coal/gas volume as Aus sells to China.
- Meanwhile Australia had great hopes of longterm high volume coal exports via India's Adani. However Adani's over reliance on Australian Government money/tax exemptions lubricating the Adani Project has effectively discredited the India brand in Australia.
Meanwhile SK, Taiwan and highly protectionist UK, European and US markets just can't replace China's decisive government/corporate approach expediting high volume trade with Australia.
China's threat to minimise Chinese tourist and student numbers in Australia is unfortunately an "academic" issue during this long term COVID Crisis.
Regards
Pete
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