Former Defence Chief Says Australia Should Be More Understanding of China
Published
A former head of the Australian Defence Force has said that Australia should be more understanding of China. He made the comments in an interview with The Nightly, where he also criticised AUKUS, the security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
The former chief said that Australia should not focus only on China when it thinks about security. Instead, he argued that the country should also pay close attention to its relationship with the United States. He said that this view is important for understanding Australia's future defence choices.
He also described AUKUS as Australia's worst ever defence decision. AUKUS was announced in 2021 and includes a plan to help Australia build nuclear-powered submarines. Supporters of the agreement say it strengthens Australia's military capability in the Indo-Pacific region. The former chief's comments add to the ongoing public debate about the deal and about how Australia should manage its relations with major powers.
The article does not say whether the government plans to change its position on AUKUS or on China. The debate about Australia's defence strategy is likely to continue as the country balances its close alliance with the United States and its large trade relationship with China.
Sources: The Nightly
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