In response to China’s regional ambitions to “alter the status quo by force” in the region, the defence ministers of the United States, Australia, and Japan vowed 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 recognise that this system is being challenged in the region (…) but we see that our interests depend on respect for the international system.
By attempting to mould the world in a way that we have never seen it before, China)
Yasukazu Hamada of Japan criticised North Korea’s recent missile tests as well as “unilateral alterations to the status quo by China by employing force in the South and East China Seas” and said he wanted to “consider what we can do (… ) to boost our deterrent and response capabilities in 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.
Additionally, Austin and his Australian counterpart met in private to discuss the AUKUS pact, which was reached in 2021 and calls for the delivery of US or British nuclear-powered submarines to Canberra.
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 schedule will be a key consideration in Canberra’s decision, noting that the Australian government will announce the model of submarines it intends to purchase in the first half of 2023 following the abrupt termination of a sizable contract with France.
He noted that Australia’s submarine fleet is out-of-date and added, “It will not only be a question of which submarine we will choose, but also if it will be fast and whether there will be a gap in our capabilities.”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.
military collaboration between the US, Australia, and Japan to fend off China
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