Penny Wong delivers most significant foreign policy speech yet in Singapore

In her most significant foreign policy speech yet, Penny Wong has defended Australia’s new arms deals to allies in South-East Asia.

Penny Wong has drawn a line in the sand with South-East Asian allies over the acquisition of a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines in her most significant speech as Foreign Affairs Minister.

In a sweeping address in Singapore on Wednesday, Senator Wong defended the country’s decision to form the AUKUS security pact and warned against large forces crushing smaller nations by issuing a stinging rebuke to China for its indifference towards Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine.

Senator Wong called on South-East Asian allies to uphold a “strategic equilibrium where countries are not forced to choose but can make their own sovereign choices” about national security.

Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong meeting with Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan on Wednesday, July 6. Picture: DFAT/Sarah Friend

“So it should not be remarkable that Australia would seek enhanced defence capability from our allies, in the form of nuclear-powered submarines,” she told the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

“This is not a new capability in our region – other Indo-Pacific countries already possess nuclear-powered submarines and have been operating them for decades, and some have nuclear-armed submarines.”

Easing concerns of neighbours, like Malaysia, Senator Wong, pictured, stressed the AUKUS subs would be conventionally armed.

The Foreign Affairs Minister used the “illegal” and “immoral” invasion of Ukraine as an example of what could happen in the region if belligerent forces are left unchecked.

“Russia’s actions are an assertion that their might should be right – that a larger country is entitled to invade and subjugate a smaller neighbour – to decide whether another country can even exist,” she said.

“We can all agree that such behaviour must not be normalised.”

Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong signing an official visitor's book before a meeting with Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan on Wednesday July 6. Picture: DFAT/Sarah Friend

Senator Wong said Russia’s blockades of seaports had strangled Ukraine’s food production, which had devastating effects for South-East Asia.

She urged China to use its influence to put an end to the suffering.

“It is especially important for countries that play leading roles in international (forums), and countries with influence on Russia, to exert their influence to end this war,” Senator Wong said.

“This includes China, as a great power … and with its ‘no limits partnership’ with Russia.

“Exerting such influence would do a great deal to build confidence in our own region.”

Senator Wong will attend a G20 meeting in Bali today, setting up a showdown with Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.

Mr Yi was behind China’s controversial security deal with Solomon Islands PM Manasseh Sogavare.