Tag: AUKUS

AUKUS Plan a ‘Huge Moment’ in Australia’s Defence History: Minister

Australia’s Defence Minister Richard Marles has said that the AUKUS deal will be one of the nation’s most significant national security decisions in decades as the federal government is set to unveil its nuclear submarine plan in March. Marles has also assured Australians that the nation will not be left with a capability gap as…


Do as We Say, Not as We Do

Commentary “Do as we say, not as we do” is clearly the attitude of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). In his recent media appearance, the new Chinese ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, instructed us that obtaining nuclear powered submarines pursuant to the AUKUS agreement would not be constructive. It would not be helpful, he added,…


John Robson: Beware the Governmental Word ‘Continue’

Commentary The latest salvo in a barrage of stories about Canadian military unpreparedness is that because we’re not in the tripartite Australia-UK-U.S. AUKUS treaty we are missing out on vital discussions of cyberwarfare. It’s a serious matter indeed. But in discussing it I want to focus on spin rather than substance. No, I’m not angling…


US Congressmen Show ‘Strong Support’ for AUKUS Following Criticism From Senators

Nine U.S. Congressmen have publicly declared their “strong support” for the AUKUS pact and commitment to help Australia develop nuclear submarine capabilities. In a letter to President Joe Biden (pdf), they wrote that it could be a unique opportunity to expand the industrial base to support both U.S. and Australian submarine construction. “Far from a…


Chinese Ambassador Attempts to Break Strategic Alliance Between Australia and Japan

Beijing’s top envoy to Australia has attempted to drive a wedge into Australia’s growing ties with Japan by criticising his Japanese counterpart in Canberra and warning Australians against trusting their former World War Two enemy lest Japan launch another military attack on the country in the future. Chinese ambassador Xiao Qian made the comments during a…


Is Risky Rudd Ready to Put Service Before Self?

Commentary Many of the observations made about Australia’s choice of its new ambassador to Washington, former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, are less than flattering. A former Labor Premier and Senate Deputy Leader, Kristina Keneally, once described him on Sky News as a “psychopathic narcissist.” She made those observations confirming other Labor colleagues shared her assessment when there…


US Senators Warn President Biden Against Providing Australia With Nuclear Subs

Two U.S. Senators have raised major concerns over the trilateral AUKUS deal between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, saying that the supply of U.S. nuclear-powered submarines (SSN) to Australia could weaken America’s submarine fleet. In a letter sent to the Biden Administration on Dec. 21, 2022, Senators’ Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and James…


‘Too Stupid’: Former Australian Deputy PM Believes Taiwan Conflict Unlikely

Former Australian Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce believes Beijing will not engage in outright conflict with Taiwan because it would be “too stupid.” Joyce made the comments after returning from a visit to Taiwan with a bipartisan delegation consisting of Labor, Liberal, and Nationals MPs. “China and Taiwan, I believe, are unlikely to come to…


China’s Progress Toward Nuclear Triad Faces Major Maritime Shortcomings

New Analysis Although the United States and Russia have cut down on nuclear weapons spending after the Cold War, China has been expanding its nuclear arsenal to match the top nuclear triad nations, resulting in greater tensions and threats of nuclear warfare. However, China’s ability to launch nuclear weapons at sea has become a challenge…


Two-Thirds of Australia Under Beijing’s Missile Threat: Report

Two-thirds of Australia could be at risk from Beijing’s land-based missiles, according to a submission to the national Defence Strategic Review. The 33-page submission, prepared by former analysts at Defence Department and the U.S.-based Rand Corporation, includes a map showing Australia’s vulnerability to potential strikes from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), The Daily Telegraph reported….