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Reuters
12 hours ago
- Reuters
Australia will not commit troops in advance to any conflict, minister says
SYDNEY, July 13 (Reuters) - Australia will not commit troops in advance to any conflict, Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said on Sunday, responding to a report that the Pentagon has pressed its ally to clarify what role it would play if the U.S. and China went to war over Taiwan. Australia prioritises its sovereignty and "we don't discuss hypotheticals", Conroy said in an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. "The decision to commit Australian troops to a conflict will be made by the government of the day, not in advance but by the government of the day," he said. The Financial Times reported on Saturday that Elbridge Colby, the U.S. under-secretary of defence for policy, has been pushing Australian and Japanese defence officials on what they would do in a Taiwan conflict, although the U.S. does not offer a blank cheque guarantee to defend Taiwan. Colby posted on X that the Department of Defense is implementing President Donald Trump's "America First" agenda of restoring deterrence, which includes "urging allies to step up their defense spending and other efforts related to our collective defense". China claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own and has not ruled out the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control. Taiwan President Lai Ching-te rejects China's sovereignty claims, saying only Taiwan's people can decide their future. Australia's largest war-fighting exercise with the United States, involving 30,000 troops from 19 countries, opens on Sunday on Sydney Harbour. Conroy said Australia was concerned about China's military buildup of nuclear and conventional forces, and wants a balanced Indo-Pacific region where no country dominates. "China is seeking to secure a military base in the region and we are working very hard to be the primary security partner of choice for the region because we don't think that's a particularly optimal thing for Australia," he said, referring to the Pacific Islands. Security is expected to be on the agenda when Prime Minister Anthony Albanese meets China's leaders this week. He arrived in Shanghai on Saturday for a six-day visit. The Talisman Sabre exercise will span 6,500 km (4,000 miles), from Australia's Indian Ocean territory of Christmas Island to the Coral Sea on Australia's east coast. Conroy said it was possible China's navy would be watching the exercise to collect information, as it had done in the past. The United States is Australia's major security ally. Although Australia does not permit foreign bases, the U.S. military is expanding its rotational presence and fuel stores on Australian bases, which from 2027 will have U.S. Virginia submarines at port in Western Australia. These would play a key role in supporting U.S. forces in any conflict over Taiwan, analysts say.
Reuters
a day ago
- Reuters
EU's von der Leyen warns of countermeasures if U.S. 30% tariffs go ahead
BRUSSELS, July 12 (Reuters) - The EU is prepared to take the necessary steps to safeguard its interests if the U.S. proceeds with imposing a 30% tariff on European goods starting Aug 1, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Saturday. Von der Leyen, who heads the EU's executive arm, said in a statement that the bloc remained ready "to continue working towards an agreement by Aug 1". "Few economies in the world match the European Union's level of openness and adherence to fair trading practices," she continued. "We will take all necessary steps to safeguard EU interests, including the adoption of proportionate countermeasures if required."
Auto Blog
a day ago
- Auto Blog
Honda Super EV concept is the small EV more automakers should be building
By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. 'Fun-To-Drive' City Car Makes Public Debut At the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed, Honda is reminding driving enthusiasts that fun cars can come in all sizes. While the Japanese automaker is primarily celebrating the 60th anniversary of its first F1 win, it's also debuting the Super EV concept, a tiny hatchback that promises 'fresh, 'fun-to-drive' electric performance alongside trademark Honda usability,' according to a press release on Honda's Goodwood activities. Previous Pause Next Unmute 0:00 / 0:10 Full screen When will Toyota build an EV with its simulated manual transmission? Watch More Honda hasn't provided any additional details since announcing the Super EV concept last month, but upon first inspection, it certainly looks intriguing. With its upright profile and box fender flares, it looks like a sportier version of the Honda e (which was discontinued in 2023, having never made it to the United States), or a modern reinterpretation of the Honda City Turbo hatch from the 1980s. And its small size would make it a good competitor to the electric Mini Cooper and Fiat 500e. Is There Room For It In Honda's EV Lineup? When it announced this concept car, Honda said it was part of a 'wider global program,' hinting that any future production version might not be as market-limited as the Honda e. But right now, Honda's EV efforts for the U.S. are focused on the roll out of its first '0 Series' models, including an SUV and sedan previewed earlier this year at CES, plus a crossover reviving the Acura RSX name using the same hardware, and the Afeela 1, the first product of the Sony Honda Mobility joint venture. But with Honda already having reportedly cancelled a three-row flagship electric SUV for the U.S. amid uncertainty about EV sales, it's unclear if the automaker would take the risk—which is exactly what it would be—of bringing a small EV to the U.S. The cancelled SUV was better suited to American tastes, and had a ready market to compete in, with the Kia EV9 selling reasonably well. A production version of the Super EV, in contrast, would be a niche model in the U.S. About the Author Stephen Edelstein View Profile
