Business leaders need to see beyond the "infantile" debate of a choice between China and the US when mapping Australia's future economic success, says John Howard, in a view that has won support from senior Obama administration officials. And, writing exclusively today for The Australian, Australia's ambassador to Washington, Kim Beazley, says Australian businesses are … Continue reading Former Australian Prime Minister says US v China debate is ‘infantile’
Tag: United States
China was furious because Australia would not submit to its demands under Kevin Rudd
One of Australia's foremost China experts says then prime minister Kevin Rudd may have fallen victim to "bite your friend" syndrome during his dealings with the Asian power, as Beijing expected too much in return.In a paper to be released today by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, Ross Terrill, once described by the Chinese as … Continue reading China was furious because Australia would not submit to its demands under Kevin Rudd
Australian frigate joins US Navy in East China Sea mission
An Australian Navy frigate joined the U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet on Monday for a three-month embed, the latest example of tightening links during a time of heightened tensions in the Asia-Pacific region. The modified Perry-class frigate HMAS Sydney is now docked at Yokosuka’s naval harbour, where its 217-member crew will prepare for a patrol as … Continue reading Australian frigate joins US Navy in East China Sea mission
China dismisses Australia’s defence white paper, says it changes nothing
China has warned that Labor's new white paper is a political document unlikely to bring major changes to Canberra's defence strategy or alter Australia's position in the Asia-Pacific region. Han Feng, a deputy director at the China Academy of Social Science, a think tank closely linked to the Communist Party and government, said the paper … Continue reading China dismisses Australia’s defence white paper, says it changes nothing
Indonesian president vows it’s military will outgun Australia
Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono says his country should strive to have a more powerful military than Australia. About 16,000 Indonesian troops are preparing for joint military exercises in East Java. Meeting with military commanders, Mr Yudhoyono told them that Indonesia's military should be bigger and more modern than countries like Australia, Singapore and Malaysia. … Continue reading Indonesian president vows it’s military will outgun Australia
New Australian defence white paper fails to recognise China as any threat whatsoever
Asia is a potentially turbulent region, yet Australia has no sensible defence strategy. For more than 40 years Australia has been able to assume that it is a secure country in a peaceful region. That has kept its defence needs low and defence budget modest. Now Asia is changing fast, and the old assumptions no … Continue reading New Australian defence white paper fails to recognise China as any threat whatsoever
US Senator John McCain slams Australia’s defence cuts as ‘imprudent’
Powerful US senator John McCain has criticised the Gillard government for cutting the Australian defence budget. In an interview in his Washington Senate office, Mr McCain told The Weekend Australian that "it is not prudent" for Canberra to cut its defence budget so heavily. Last year the Gillard government cut defence spending by 10 per … Continue reading US Senator John McCain slams Australia’s defence cuts as ‘imprudent’
Australia won’t be drawn into ‘mythical’ US-China war says defence consultant
The view that war between the US and China is inevitable and that Australia will be drawn into such a conflict is a dangerous miscalculation, says defence white paper author Paul Dibb. The comments to be made tonight by Mr Dibb will follow those by Julia Gillard, who yesterday deplored "false modesty" in our relationship … Continue reading Australia won’t be drawn into ‘mythical’ US-China war says defence consultant
U.S. marines based in Australia will cost $1.6 billion
Infrastructure costing an estimated $1.6 billion will need to be built in Northern Australia to accommodate a fully-equipped, 2500-strong US Marines task force due in Darwin in about 2016. And it is not clear yet who will foot the bill to accommodate the potent and self-contained Marines Air Ground Task Group, which will come to … Continue reading U.S. marines based in Australia will cost $1.6 billion
Australian soldier accused over deaths of unarmed Iraqis
A decorated Australian soldier was embroiled in a secret war- crimes investigation after two former high ranking US military officials accused him of ordering the killing of unarmed men during the invasion of Iraq. Fairfax Media has uncovered the extraordinary allegations directed against then army warrant officer Joe Day, who was on an exchange with … Continue reading Australian soldier accused over deaths of unarmed Iraqis
Experts warn that China’s main motive in new deal is to prise Australia away from US
The "strategic partnership" announced this week between Australia and China is widely viewed within China and by experts internationally as a move in which Beijing hopes to start prising Canberra away from Washington on security matters. But this is a long-term strategy, which is easier for China's new leaders, who anticipate a 10-year term ahead, … Continue reading Experts warn that China’s main motive in new deal is to prise Australia away from US
Australian Prime Minister strengthens military alliance with China, ignores 2009 report of threat
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard today will unveil a 10-year plan to tighten Australia's embrace of China, flagging three-nation military exercises to include the US and more Chinese investment in Australia. The declaration comes as Canberra and Beijing have clinched a deal for an annual meeting mechanism between the Australian prime minister and the Chinese … Continue reading Australian Prime Minister strengthens military alliance with China, ignores 2009 report of threat
Australia and China agree to new annual leaders’ forum; few other outcomes of China trip
Australia and China have agreed to top level strategic talks to strengthen and provide direction to an economically crucial relationship which also presents vast opportunities. In one of the few immediate outcomes from Julia Gillard's high-octane charm offensive to China which wraps up on Wednesday, a new annual leaders' forum has been agreed, effectively mirroring … Continue reading Australia and China agree to new annual leaders’ forum; few other outcomes of China trip
Canberra doesn’t understand reality of China-Japan conflict, or consequences to Australia
In the event of a conflict between China and Japan, it's hard to think of a country that would be more exposed than Australia. Yet several leading defence scholars have warned that this prospect is receiving little attention from policy-makers and academics, and Australia is in denial about the risks. Defence specialist and consultant Ross … Continue reading Canberra doesn’t understand reality of China-Japan conflict, or consequences to Australia
Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd calls on China to calm North Korea
North Korea's nuclear program poses a serious threat to China's own relations with its neighbours, Kevin Rudd has warned officers at Beijing's main defence academy. In a speech at China's National Defence University, Mr Rudd said Pyongyang's antics threatened China's foreign policy objectives because Asian nations were beginning to co-operate on regional anti-ballistic missile defences, … Continue reading Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd calls on China to calm North Korea
Australia warned of double whammy in China’s pending debt crisis
A major Asian investment bank says the seeds of a future financial crisis in China have been sown. Nomura is warning that debt levels in China are teetering at unsustainable levels. Debt in China is believed to be between 150 and 200 per cent of GDP, pushed up by easy monetary policy the government has … Continue reading Australia warned of double whammy in China’s pending debt crisis
Afghan women tricked into spying on Taliban for US, Australian forces
Afghan women were tricked into spying for NATO-led forces after being lured in under the auspices of a fake aid program, a former espionage chief has revealed. Provided with phone credit and sewing and embroidery supplies, the women believed that they were being helped to start a small business. But their contact point, a female … Continue reading Afghan women tricked into spying on Taliban for US, Australian forces
Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd goes world wide on China’s assertiveness
He may no longer be prime minister but Kevin Rudd is about to again strut the world stage in support of an article for Foreign Affairs magazine on relations between China and the US. Mr Rudd has scheduled trips to South Korea, China and the US as parliament prepares to break ahead of the May … Continue reading Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd goes world wide on China’s assertiveness
Australia places Syria group on terrorist list
The Al-Nusrah Front was little known before the Syria uprising but has since become a major part of the insurgency. The Australian government has placed a prominent Sunni Islamist group fighting the regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria on its terrorist blacklist. Foreign Minister Bob Carr has announced Australia will list the Al-Nusrah Front as … Continue reading Australia places Syria group on terrorist list
Australia’s hopes high of locking in Japanese free trade agreement
Australia and Japan are eyeing a chance to conclude a free-trade agreement, possibly with a visit from Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe before the middle of the year. Comments made by Mr Abe and US President Barack Obama in their recent meeting appear to have heightened hopes of Japan joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade … Continue reading Australia’s hopes high of locking in Japanese free trade agreement
Australian detention centres are “Fawlty Towers” of global immigration community
In a star-studded field of dysfunctional federal government departments it is difficult to nominate the standout performer. Customs and Border Protection is beset with serious corruption and a declining ability to check incoming cargo for illegal firearms and drugs. The Australian Crime Commission apparently sees more danger in performance-enhancing supplements than illegal drugs, suburban gunbattles … Continue reading Australian detention centres are “Fawlty Towers” of global immigration community
Australia’s Kevin Rudd supports US pivot as a ‘response to China’
China's assertive foreign and security policies are dominating strategic concerns in the Asia-Pacific region and have led directly to a strong US response, according to Kevin Rudd. In an article to be published next month in American journal Foreign Affairs, Mr Rudd says the "pivot" to Asia by US President Barack Obama was a direct … Continue reading Australia’s Kevin Rudd supports US pivot as a ‘response to China’
Julian Assange to run for Australian Senate
Julian Assange will run for a Senate seat in the 2013 federal election and his mum reckons he'll be awesome. Christine Assange confirmed her son's candidacy on Wednesday after WikiLeaks tweeted the news. "He will be awesome," she said. "In the House of Representatives we get to choose between US lackey party number one and … Continue reading Julian Assange to run for Australian Senate
Major oil discovery in outback South Australia worth $20 trillion
Brisbane company Linc Energy says independent studies have confirmed a major shale oil source in South Australia's far north, which officials have estimated could be worth $20 trillion. The company says US-consultants have carried out drilling and geological and seismic surveys around Coober Pedy. Linc Energy holds rights over more than 65,000 square kilometres of … Continue reading Major oil discovery in outback South Australia worth $20 trillion
Australian coal mining threatens CO2 target
The forecast expansion of Australian coal mining and exports would be the world's second-largest contributor of new carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels if fully realised, research by Greenpeace International has found. An analysis of the planet's 14 largest proposed, coal, oil and gas developments - to be released on Wednesday by Greenpeace - finds … Continue reading Australian coal mining threatens CO2 target
Craig Hill 