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Australia warns against US-China tensions
SYDNEY, Nov 1, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – China’s rising and “unprecedented
influence” in the Indo-Pacific region will challenge American interests, but
confrontation must not define relations between the two powers, Australian
Prime Minister Scott Morrison warned Thursday.
In his first major foreign policy speech, Morrison tried to tread a careful
line between Australia’s alliance with the United States and engaging a
rapidly and evermore assertive China.
“Inevitably, in the period ahead, we will be navigating a higher degree of
US-China strategic competition,” Morrison told the Asia Society Australia in
Sydney.
“It is important that US-China relations do not become defined by
confrontation,” he said, against a backdrop of the two economic behemoths
trading economic sanctions and counter-sanctions in an ever-deeping trade
dispute.
Australia — a member of the “Five Eyes” Western intelligence alliance and
with long-standing and close military ties with Washington — finds itself
slap-bang in the middle of one of the 21st century’s geopolitical hotspots.
A quiet battle is raging for influence in the South Pacific — a region of
small island states that is vital to international shipping and provides a
stepping stone for Beijing and Washington to project military and economic
power across the Pacific region.
“As economic power shifts, it’s unsurprising that nations will seek to play
a bigger strategic role in our region,” said Morrison.
“China, in particular, is exercising unprecedented influence in the Indo-
Pacific,” he said.
“China is the country that is most changing the balance of power, sometimes
in ways that challenge important US interests.”
While stressing ties with the United States are vital to Australia’s
security, he said relations with China must be kept on an even keel.
Rhetoric between Canberra and Beijing has been heightened by Australia’s
decision to bar Chinese state-linked telecoms firms from operating
Australia’s new 5G network on the grounds that they pose a security risk.
Morrison described Australia’s relationship with China as “vitally
important”, noting trade, tourism and educational exchanges were at a record
high.
Beijing has been showering billions of dollars in infrastructure loans to
tiny island nations across the Pacific China, and is reportedly talking to
Vanuatu about the possibility of opening a military base there.
Morrison, who came to office in August, indicated Australia would also push
its own influence.
He announced an initiative to develop the Lombrum military base in Manus,
Papua New Guinea.
BSS/AFP/MR/1150 hrs