An image from a prior joint US, Australian, and Japanese exercise (Usindopacom)
In response to China’s regional ambitions, which aim to “alter the status quo by force” in the region, the defence ministers of the US, Australia, and Japan vowed on Saturday in Honolulu to strengthen their military cooperation.
While hosting his Australian and Japanese counterparts at the US military headquarters in the area, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin remarked, “We are very worried about China’s escalating aggressive and intimidating actions in the Taiwan Strait and elsewhere in the region.”
For his part, Australian Minister Richard Marles stated: “We perceive that this system is facing a challenge in the region (. Our interests depend on respect for the international system.
), which aims to reshape the world in a way that we have never seen it before.
Yasukazu Hamada of Japan criticised recent missile tests by North Korea and “unilateral alterations to the status quo by China employing force in the South and East China Seas,” adding that he wished to “consider what we can do (.) to boost our deterrent and response capabilities in the region.”
The United States has recently begun a global diplomatic offensive to try to undermine China’s influence in this important region.
It increased its diplomatic presence in the South Pacific islands on Thursday and unveiled a new $810 million fund to aid the region.
In her visits to South Korea and Japan this week, US Vice President Kamala Harris reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to acting “without fear or hesitation” throughout Asia, including in the Taiwan Strait.
During a trip to Seoul and the demilitarised zone between the two Koreas, Harris also visited Seoul in an effort to reaffirm Washington’s “steadfast” commitment to defending South Korea from its neighbour to the north.
Austin also met with his Australian counterpart in a private setting to discuss the AUKUS pact, which Australia, the US, and the UK came to in 2021 to supply Canberra to US or UK nuclear-powered submarines.
The most recent class of attack submarines in the US Navy’s fleet, the USS Mississippi Virginia class, was examined by the two men as they made their way to Pearl Harbor Bay.
The Australian minister noted that the delivery timetable will be a key consideration in Canberra’s decision, which it will make in the first half of 2023 following the abrupt cancellation of a sizable deal with France. Canberra will then disclose which model submarines it plans to purchase.
He noted that Australia’s submarine fleet is out-of-date and added, “It will not just be about the question of which submarine we will choose, but also if it will be fast and whether there will be a gap in our capabilities.”
Given the strategic predicament we are in, he continued, “It is crucial that there be an enhancement in the capability of submarines in Australia.”
Furthermore, Australia might be able to operate more covertly and effectively discourage China by using nuclear-powered submarines. The choice of a supplier will have important strategic and economic ramifications.
United States, Australia, and Japan want to stop China
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