Australia’s defense minister said his country had not promised the United States that Australia would support its ally in any future conflict over Taiwan in exchange for obtaining a nuclear-powered submarine from America.
Australia and Britain announced in San Diego last week that Australia would buy nuclear-powered attack submarines from the US to modernize its fleet amid growing concerns about China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific.
Critics in Australia argue that the United States will not hand over five Virginia-class submarines without assurances that Australia will support it in the event of a conflict with China over Taiwan. Beijing says the self-governing democratic island, which split from China in 1949 after a civil war, must unite with the mainland, and even by force if necessary.
But Australia’s Defense Minister Richard Marles said his government had made no guarantees to the United States on the Taiwan issue.
“Absolutely not, and I’ve made that very clear,” Marles said on the Australian Broadcasting Corp’s “Insiders” news programme. on Sunday.
Australia, like the United States, has a policy of “strategic ambiguity”. Both countries declined to say how they would react to China’s attack on Taiwan if it happened. Australia and the US have also entered into a bilateral defense agreement dating back to 1951 obliging them to consult if one is attacked but not to commit to assisting the defense of the other.
Two former Australian prime ministers, Paul Keating and Malcolm Turnbull, are among the critics who have questioned how Australia can maintain its sovereignty when it relies heavily on US military technology and personnel under the submarine deal.
The AUKUS (Australia, UK and US) agreement angered China, which accused Australia of taking a wrong and dangerous path.
Marles said while submarines could be used in the event of a conflict, their primary purpose was to protect vital trade routes in the South China Sea and contribute to regional stability.
“Nuclear powered submarines clearly have the capacity to operate in a war context, but the main intent here is to make our contribution to regional stability,” said Marles.
Source: VOA Indonesia