Australia urged to make 'gutsy' call against China war
The US has been pushing allies such as Australia and Japan to make clear what role they would play in a potential conflict, including a Sino-American war over the disputed territory.
Washington is simultaneously reviewing its nuclear submarine deal with Australia under the three-nation AUKUS partnership over concerns the sale of America's "crown jewel" Virginia-class boats would negatively impact its military.
Retired major-general Michael Smith on Sunday said Canberra needed to review AUKUS, which was inked in September 2021 under the previous Morrison government and the Biden administration.
"The Australian government needs to have the guts to say we're not going to war with China over Taiwan," he told an online event hosted by the Independent and Peaceful Australia Network.
"Taiwan is not one of our vital interests and we shouldn't go to war, and we won't go to war with China unless we're absolutely threatened."
Defence analysts consider it unlikely the US review of AUKUS will result in the $368 billion submarine program being scrapped altogether.
But it might mean demands will be made of Australia to contribute more to America's submarine industrial base.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reaffirmed Australia wanted to see the status quo remain in place for Taiwan, which Beijing considers part of its territory, during his second trip to China since taking the top job.
"We don't support any unilateral action there. We have a clear position and we've been consistent about that," he said from Shanghai.
The US has joined more than a dozen nations in the latest edition of Exercise Talisman Sabre, Australia's largest military exercise, which kicked off on Sunday after an opening ceremony on the HMAS Adelaide in Sydney.
More than 30,000 defence force personnel will participate.
"The fact that we have 19 nations participating this year ... tells you that we're all in search of a common goal, which is stability, free and open Indo-Pacific, and adherence to international law," Chief of Joint Operations Justin Jones said.
China was fully expected to want to observe the activities, as it had previously done, Vice Admiral Jones said.
"We are able to adapt to that presence ... so it's catered for in the planning of the exercise," he said.
The war-fighting exercise will consist of live-fire drills, air combat and maritime operations.
Australia should have the guts to declare it won't go to war with China over Taiwan as the self-governing island is not among the nation's "vital interests", a former senior army officer says.
The US has been pushing allies such as Australia and Japan to make clear what role they would play in a potential conflict, including a Sino-American war over the disputed territory.
Washington is simultaneously reviewing its nuclear submarine deal with Australia under the three-nation AUKUS partnership over concerns the sale of America's "crown jewel" Virginia-class boats would negatively impact its military.
Retired major-general Michael Smith on Sunday said Canberra needed to review AUKUS, which was inked in September 2021 under the previous Morrison government and the Biden administration.
"The Australian government needs to have the guts to say we're not going to war with China over Taiwan," he told an online event hosted by the Independent and Peaceful Australia Network.
"Taiwan is not one of our vital interests and we shouldn't go to war, and we won't go to war with China unless we're absolutely threatened."
Defence analysts consider it unlikely the US review of AUKUS will result in the $368 billion submarine program being scrapped altogether.
But it might mean demands will be made of Australia to contribute more to America's submarine industrial base.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reaffirmed Australia wanted to see the status quo remain in place for Taiwan, which Beijing considers part of its territory, during his second trip to China since taking the top job.
"We don't support any unilateral action there. We have a clear position and we've been consistent about that," he said from Shanghai.
The US has joined more than a dozen nations in the latest edition of Exercise Talisman Sabre, Australia's largest military exercise, which kicked off on Sunday after an opening ceremony on the HMAS Adelaide in Sydney.
More than 30,000 defence force personnel will participate.
"The fact that we have 19 nations participating this year ... tells you that we're all in search of a common goal, which is stability, free and open Indo-Pacific, and adherence to international law," Chief of Joint Operations Justin Jones said.
China was fully expected to want to observe the activities, as it had previously done, Vice Admiral Jones said.
"We are able to adapt to that presence ... so it's catered for in the planning of the exercise," he said.
The war-fighting exercise will consist of live-fire drills, air combat and maritime operations.
Australia should have the guts to declare it won't go to war with China over Taiwan as the self-governing island is not among the nation's "vital interests", a former senior army officer says.
The US has been pushing allies such as Australia and Japan to make clear what role they would play in a potential conflict, including a Sino-American war over the disputed territory.
Washington is simultaneously reviewing its nuclear submarine deal with Australia under the three-nation AUKUS partnership over concerns the sale of America's "crown jewel" Virginia-class boats would negatively impact its military.
Retired major-general Michael Smith on Sunday said Canberra needed to review AUKUS, which was inked in September 2021 under the previous Morrison government and the Biden administration.
"The Australian government needs to have the guts to say we're not going to war with China over Taiwan," he told an online event hosted by the Independent and Peaceful Australia Network.
"Taiwan is not one of our vital interests and we shouldn't go to war, and we won't go to war with China unless we're absolutely threatened."
Defence analysts consider it unlikely the US review of AUKUS will result in the $368 billion submarine program being scrapped altogether.
But it might mean demands will be made of Australia to contribute more to America's submarine industrial base.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reaffirmed Australia wanted to see the status quo remain in place for Taiwan, which Beijing considers part of its territory, during his second trip to China since taking the top job.
"We don't support any unilateral action there. We have a clear position and we've been consistent about that," he said from Shanghai.
The US has joined more than a dozen nations in the latest edition of Exercise Talisman Sabre, Australia's largest military exercise, which kicked off on Sunday after an opening ceremony on the HMAS Adelaide in Sydney.
More than 30,000 defence force personnel will participate.
"The fact that we have 19 nations participating this year ... tells you that we're all in search of a common goal, which is stability, free and open Indo-Pacific, and adherence to international law," Chief of Joint Operations Justin Jones said.
China was fully expected to want to observe the activities, as it had previously done, Vice Admiral Jones said.
"We are able to adapt to that presence ... so it's catered for in the planning of the exercise," he said.
The war-fighting exercise will consist of live-fire drills, air combat and maritime operations.
Australia should have the guts to declare it won't go to war with China over Taiwan as the self-governing island is not among the nation's "vital interests", a former senior army officer says.
The US has been pushing allies such as Australia and Japan to make clear what role they would play in a potential conflict, including a Sino-American war over the disputed territory.
Washington is simultaneously reviewing its nuclear submarine deal with Australia under the three-nation AUKUS partnership over concerns the sale of America's "crown jewel" Virginia-class boats would negatively impact its military.
Retired major-general Michael Smith on Sunday said Canberra needed to review AUKUS, which was inked in September 2021 under the previous Morrison government and the Biden administration.
"The Australian government needs to have the guts to say we're not going to war with China over Taiwan," he told an online event hosted by the Independent and Peaceful Australia Network.
"Taiwan is not one of our vital interests and we shouldn't go to war, and we won't go to war with China unless we're absolutely threatened."
Defence analysts consider it unlikely the US review of AUKUS will result in the $368 billion submarine program being scrapped altogether.
But it might mean demands will be made of Australia to contribute more to America's submarine industrial base.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reaffirmed Australia wanted to see the status quo remain in place for Taiwan, which Beijing considers part of its territory, during his second trip to China since taking the top job.
"We don't support any unilateral action there. We have a clear position and we've been consistent about that," he said from Shanghai.
The US has joined more than a dozen nations in the latest edition of Exercise Talisman Sabre, Australia's largest military exercise, which kicked off on Sunday after an opening ceremony on the HMAS Adelaide in Sydney.
More than 30,000 defence force personnel will participate.
"The fact that we have 19 nations participating this year ... tells you that we're all in search of a common goal, which is stability, free and open Indo-Pacific, and adherence to international law," Chief of Joint Operations Justin Jones said.
China was fully expected to want to observe the activities, as it had previously done, Vice Admiral Jones said.
"We are able to adapt to that presence ... so it's catered for in the planning of the exercise," he said.
The war-fighting exercise will consist of live-fire drills, air combat and maritime operations.
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"Dan and my family should not be in this situation. "Australia should be a place of strength, of freedom, independence and justice," she said. Duggan was arrested in Australia in October 2022 after being accused of breaching US arms-trafficking laws by providing military training to Chinese pilots in South Africa between 2010 and 2012. He had worked part-time as a flying instructor during the relevant period. In a letter from prison in May, Duggan said he believed his activities were not illegal and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and the US Naval Central Intelligence Service knew of his work. He claimed ASIO agents brought up being able to meet Chinese generals and the topic of intelligence in a 2012 interview, leading him to believe they were trying to recruit him as a spy. ASIO said it was unable to comment because the matter was before the court. 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He claimed ASIO agents brought up being able to meet Chinese generals and the topic of intelligence in a 2012 interview, leading him to believe they were trying to recruit him as a spy. ASIO said it was unable to comment because the matter was before the court.
