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The Australian military said a Chinese intelligence ship was located about 250 nautical miles from the coast in Western Australia, prompting Canberra’s defense minister to accuse China of carrying out an “unprecedented” act of aggression.
This Chinese ship, the Haiwangxing, crossed into Australia’s exclusive economic zone on 6 May and “hugged the coast.”
Peter Dutton, the defense minister, said at a news conference that it was an act of aggression because the ship was in “close proximity to military and intelligence installations on the west coast of Australia,” according to Reuters.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison pointed out that the ship was not in Australian territorial waters but said its presence was “concerning.”
The exclusive economic zone is 200 nautical miles from the Australian coast. Australia’s territorial waters are considered within 12 nautical miles.
“I certainly don’t believe that when you take it together with the many other coercive acts and the many statements that have been made which have been attacking Australia’s national interests, you could describe it as an act of bridge building or friendship,” Morrison said.
The Trends Journal has pointed out that the relationship between Canberra and Beijing has been strained do to Australia’s AUKUS deal with the U.S. and Great Britain and Beijing’s new security agreement with the Solomon Islands. (See “AUSTRALIA LOOKS TO QUANTUM SCIENCE TO COUNTER CHINA” and “U.S. LAUNCHES COLD WAR 2.0: CHINA LAMBASTS ‘COLD-WAR MENTALITY.’”)
We pointed out that Zhao Lijian, the Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, said at the time of the AUKUS deal that it could damage “regional peace” and intensify an arms race. He said Australia and the U.S. hurt Canberra’s own interests.
Australia announced in March that it will spend about 30 percent more on its military over the next two decades—its largest boost in spending since the Vietnam War. Canberra will use some of its new personnel to operate the nuclear-powered submarines it will receive under the AUKUS partnership.
TRENDPOST: It is worth pointing out that the U.S. Navy frequently provokes China when it sails destroyers through the Taiwan Straits and South China Sea. Nan Tian, a senior researcher in military expenditure at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, told CNBC last week that the region faces a heightened risk of conflict as it arms itself at an “alarming rate.”
“Countries are playing with each other in terms of action-reaction, where when one country increases [purchases], another country [also] increases, procuring more weapons,” he said.
Of course, in the middle of this tension is the U.S. The U.S. approved a $23 billion order by Japan for F-35 fighter aircraft manufactured by Lockheed Martin. CNBC also pointed out that Northrop Grumman also delivered Global Hawk UAVs to Japan earlier this year.
No Violation
Marcus Hellyer, a senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute think tank, told the Financial Times that the Chinese Navy did not violate any maritime rules and was within its rights to be in the waters.
“There is nothing technically illegal about it but it is another demonstration of their growing capability, and we are going to see more and more of this. We are a very attractive target due to our closeness to the U.S.,” he told the paper.
Australia is set to hold a national election on 21 May and national security has been a top focal point. The FT pointed out that Dutton has tried to portray the opposition Labor party as weak against China.
Zhao, a foreign ministry spokesman, told reporters that he was not aware of the situation but insisted that China “always abides by international law and international practice.”
“The relevant Australian politician should see the relevant situation objectively and calmly, and not make sensational remarks,” he said.
TRENDPOST: China has rightfully accused the U.S. of forming a NATO-esque bloc for the Pacific in an effort to counter Beijing.
“The US professes a desire to advance regional cooperation, but in reality it’s stoking geopolitical rivalry,” he said.
“This is by no means some kind of blessing for the region but a sinister move to disrupt regional peace and stability,” Wang Yi, the Chinese foreign minister, said. “The perverse actions run counter to the common aspirations of the region for peace, development, co-operation and win-win outcomes. They’re doomed to fail.”
On Thursday, President Joe Biden held a meeting at the White House with Southeast Asian leaders and promised to spend $150 million on their infrastructure, security, COVID preparedness in an effort to counter China, Reuters reported.
TRENDPOST: One of the ways the Biden administration is selling its COLD WAR 2.0 strategy is by selling the bullshit that the U.S. is shoring up its defensive stance against Beijing by forming allies with Indo-Pacific nations such as the Philippines, Japan, Australia, India, and Vietnam.
Military Industrial Complex
Having next to nothing to do with strategic defense and more to do with further enriching the military industrial complex, last September, the U.S., Australia, and the U.K. (AUKUS) announced an arms deal that will allow Canberra to acquire a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines.
Paris is furious because the deal resulted in the cancellation of a French project that would have delivered 12 “conventionally powered” submarines to Australia.