Aukus critic Paul Keating has said the submarine deal is locking Australia in to any future US conflict with China – “a war America would certainly lose” – and making Australia a target for retribution.
asserted
Australia → say → retribution
The former prime minister seized on comments reported out of Washington this week from Republican congressman Michael McCaul – a China hawk and co-chair of the Congressional Friends of Australia caucus – who said “Australia is a target” for enemies of the US already.
asserted
Australia → seize → US
However, McCaul argued that greater integration with the US military would better protect Australia rather than leaving it more vulnerable.
asserted
integration → argue → it
McCaul also said it was “logical to assume” US nuclear-powered submarines rotating through Australian bases could also be nuclear armed after 2032, and that Australia’s participation in a US war against China over Taiwan was assumed by the US military establishment.
uncertain
participation → say → establishment
“I don’t think it was even questioned.
asserted
it → think → ?
It’s just obvious,” McCaul said.
asserted
McCaul → ’ → ?
“Australia, being a Five Eyes [intelligence-sharing network member] and an ally of the United States, would be at odds with China invading Taiwan and threatening the Indo-Pacific.”
asserted
China → invade → Pacific
He said it was “absolutely critical” for Australian to back any US intervention to protect Taiwan.
asserted
Australian → say → Taiwan
McCaul met with the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, the defence minister, Richard Marles, and the foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, during a visit to Australia this month.
asserted
McCaul → meet → Australia
Keating said the US would “certainly lose” in a war with China over Taiwan.
asserted
US → say → Taiwan
“But having lost, [the US would] scuttle itself back to San Diego, leaving Australia vulnerable to China for having participated in a military escapade against it and its military assets.”
asserted
US → lose → it
Keating said Australia’s increasing enmeshment within the US military, especially through Aukus, was seeing Australia’s “sovereignty effectively being shredded”.
asserted
sovereignty → say → Aukus
“Australia is now getting locked in and locked up to the military prerogatives of the United States.”
asserted
Australia → lock → States
The Guardian revealed last week that the US military, and its corporate interests, control, or have access to, more than 100 military bases across the Australian continent.
asserted
military → reveal → continent
More than half of the military installations in Australia have some level of US control or access.
asserted
half → have → control
Intelligence sites such as Pine Gap play a critical role in US warfighting, downlinking masses of surveillance data from satellites, and providing targeting information for US strikes.
asserted
sites → play → strikes
In parliament this week, Greens senator David Shoebridge seized on McCaul’s further comments that he considered Australia a “beachhead” for the US in its efforts to deter China and maintain peace in the region.
asserted
Australia → seize → region
“The US spruikers of Aukus have said they want to make Australia the beachhead for US military war against China,” Shoebridge told a press conference at Parliament House.
asserted
Shoebridge → say → House
“I want to be clear what happens at a beachhead: people get killed at a beachhead, destruction happens at a beachhead in someone else’s war.
asserted
destruction → want → war
“How on Earth does Aukus make us safe, when a foreign military is bringing their nuclear-armed submarines into this country and consciously saying they want our country to be the beachhead in a war with China?
asserted
country → make → China
It’s time we ended Aukus before we become the US’s beachhead.”
asserted
we → ’ → Aukus
Under Pillar One of the proposed Aukus agreement – a multi-decade deal slated to cost Australia $368bn to the mid-2050s – Australia will buy three “in-service” Virginia-class nuclear-powered, conventionally armed submarines from the US, beginning in 2032.
asserted
Australia → propose → 2032
From the early 2040s, Australia expects to deploy a new, larger Aukus-class submarine.
asserted
Australia → expect → submarine
The new class will be designed in the UK and the first boat built for the Royal Navy.
asserted
boat → design → Navy
Australia will then build five Aukus submarines - except for their nuclear reactors - in South Australia.
asserted
Australia → build → Australia
America’s Virginia class submarines do not currently carry nuclear weapons but, from 2032, the US navy is planning to equip some of its Virginia boats with nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missiles.
asserted
navy → carry → missiles
The US has a policy of “strategic ambiguity” around the deployment of its nuclear arsenal, refusing to confirm or deny the presence of nuclear weapons on platforms around the world.
asserted
US → have → world
The Treaty of Rarotonga prohibits Australia from “stationing” nuclear weapons on its territory.
asserted
Treaty → prohibit → territory
The Aporia
