Nation must be alive to full US interests in our region

Defence Minister Peter Dutton has injected a sense of reality into the difficult issue of regional security and China’s stated intentions towards Taiwan. Mr Dutton told senior writer Troy Bramston: “It would be inconceivable that we wouldn’t support the US in an action if the US chose to take that action.” His comments are a logical confirmation of our close ties and support for the US as a major ally and great power in our region and the world. The government’s view on Taiwan is in stark contrast to comments by former prime minister Paul Keating this week. Mr Keating said Taiwan was not a vital Australian interest and if the US and China did go to war over Taiwan, then Australia would have no treaty obligations to join the conflict. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said Mr Keating was a “visionary” person with an “objective and rational voice”, and that Australia would do well to take on board his “helpful suggestions”. Labor leader Anthony Albanese said China had become “far more forward-leaning” and that was what was driving Australia to change its foreign policy. Scott Morrison has accused Labor of trying to have a bet each way.

Discussions about Taiwan come at a difficult time as Chinese President Xi Jinping cements his authority and warns other nations not to interfere in the region. In a video address to the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation CEO Summit on Thursday, Mr Xi warned the Asia-Pacific region must not relapse into “Cold War-style confrontation”. “Attempts to draw ideological lines or form small circles on geopolitical grounds are bound to fail,” he said. Mr Xi’s comments must be viewed in the context of the international response to China’s greater assertiveness in the region and stated ambitions towards Taiwan.

Australia has joined with regional partners and traditional allies to provide a counterbalance to China’s rising economic and military ambitions. The AUKUS deal to purchase nuclear submarines from the US or Britain is a key feature of this new reality. Mr Dutton said his strategic vision was to be prepared for “the threat of conflict in our own region” and dealing with an assertive China. “(China’s) been very clear about their intent to go into Taiwan and we need to make sure that there is a high level of preparedness, a greater sense of deterrence by our capability, and that is how I think we put our country in a position of strength,” Mr Dutton said. “My job is to get the organisation into that frame of mind.”

Mr Dutton’s comments no doubt will be welcomed by US President Joe Biden, who is expected to meet virtually with Mr Xi on Monday. Washington repeatedly has signalled its support for Taiwan in the face of Chinese aggression. It is important that, as a major ally, Australia leaves no doubt that it remains firmly committed to the shared values and ambitions for regional stability, open trade and freedom.

The Prime Minister said on Friday that Australia would never back down on its right to make sovereign decisions on defence issues. “If that means Australia gets targeted because of that, if that means we’ll attract criticism because we decide to get better submarines and that upsets people, and they want to have a sledge at me, well so be it,” he said. Mr Morrison said a key part of having a free and open Indo-Pacific was working especially with our like-minded partners. This is true. But, as editor-at-large Paul Kelly writes on Saturday, Australia also should take notice of the message sent by the surprise US-China joint announcement on climate change – Beijing and Washington are talking and we are not. As Australia deepens its strategic alliance with the US, our challenge is to avoid, not promote, a cold war in our region.