US demands to know what Australia would do in a war over Taiwan
Elbridge Colby, under-secretary of defence for policy, has been pushing the issue in meetings with Japanese and Australian defence officials in recent months, said five people familiar with the discussions.
Financial Times
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The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
PM juggles military tensions amid football diplomacy
Football and tourism have been the focus of the prime minister's first full day in China as questions about Australia's participation in a potential future conflict with the Asian superpower overshadow his six-day tour. Former Socceroo Kevin Muscat joined Anthony Albanese on a morning walk along Shanghai's historic Bund promenade on Sunday to promote the two nations' interpersonal links. Now coaching Shanghai Port FC, Muscat last year became the first Australian manager to lead a Chinese Super League team to the premiership. The former midfield enforcer has brought over a host of Australian coaching staff, including fellow ex-Socceroo Ross Aloisi, in a sign of the deepening collaboration between Australia and China on the sporting field. A keen tennis player, Mr Albanese will also make an announcement about extending an Australian Open wildcard tournament in the southwestern city of Chengdu later in the visit. "One of the things about Australia and China that's so important is we build people-to-people relations and we do that by the participation of Australians here," the prime minister said. "Whether it be here in football, or whether it be the lead-in tournament that's going to take place in Chengdu for the Australian Open (or) the business relationships that we have here as well." Looking across the Huangpu River to the towering skyscrapers on the opposite bank, Mr Albanese reflected on the phenomenal economic transformation China had undergone in recent decades. That boom has seen no small benefit flow to Australia, whose iron ore exports helped build the Shanghai skyline and filled the federal government's coffers. "When I first came here in the 1990s, the area Pudong was very different indeed," Mr Albanese said in a meeting with local Chinese Communist Party official Chen Jining. "There were farms where there is now a great metropolis. "The development we can see across the river is symbolic of the extraordinary development that China has seen in recent decades, lifting literally hundreds of millions of people out of poverty and creating economic benefit for the people of China but also increased economic engagement with countries like Australia." A burgeoning Chinese middle class, with a new found appetite for travel, has flocked to Australia in recent decades though recent tourist numbers remain below pre-pandemic levels. To promote Australia as a travel destination, the prime minister will oversee the signing of a memorandum of understanding between online travel giant - which owns popular bookings sites such as Skyscanner - and Tourism Australia. He will also unveil a new tourism campaign to air in China starring local film star Yu Shi and Ruby the Roo, an animated kangaroo voiced by Rose Byrne. Amid the positive rhetoric around Sino-Australian relations, Mr Albanese is doing his best to dodge the US-sized elephant in the room. Military tensions were highlighted by revelations that US defence strategist Elbridge Colby has been pushing Australia and Japan to clarify what role they would play in a potential conflict with China But acting Defence Minister Pat Conroy on Sunday reiterated Australia's long-established stance on whether it would join the US in a war. "The decision to commit Australian troops to a conflict will be made by the government of the day, not in advance," he told ABC's Insiders program. Football and tourism have been the focus of the prime minister's first full day in China as questions about Australia's participation in a potential future conflict with the Asian superpower overshadow his six-day tour. Former Socceroo Kevin Muscat joined Anthony Albanese on a morning walk along Shanghai's historic Bund promenade on Sunday to promote the two nations' interpersonal links. Now coaching Shanghai Port FC, Muscat last year became the first Australian manager to lead a Chinese Super League team to the premiership. The former midfield enforcer has brought over a host of Australian coaching staff, including fellow ex-Socceroo Ross Aloisi, in a sign of the deepening collaboration between Australia and China on the sporting field. A keen tennis player, Mr Albanese will also make an announcement about extending an Australian Open wildcard tournament in the southwestern city of Chengdu later in the visit. "One of the things about Australia and China that's so important is we build people-to-people relations and we do that by the participation of Australians here," the prime minister said. "Whether it be here in football, or whether it be the lead-in tournament that's going to take place in Chengdu for the Australian Open (or) the business relationships that we have here as well." Looking across the Huangpu River to the towering skyscrapers on the opposite bank, Mr Albanese reflected on the phenomenal economic transformation China had undergone in recent decades. That boom has seen no small benefit flow to Australia, whose iron ore exports helped build the Shanghai skyline and filled the federal government's coffers. "When I first came here in the 1990s, the area Pudong was very different indeed," Mr Albanese said in a meeting with local Chinese Communist Party official Chen Jining. "There were farms where there is now a great metropolis. "The development we can see across the river is symbolic of the extraordinary development that China has seen in recent decades, lifting literally hundreds of millions of people out of poverty and creating economic benefit for the people of China but also increased economic engagement with countries like Australia." A burgeoning Chinese middle class, with a new found appetite for travel, has flocked to Australia in recent decades though recent tourist numbers remain below pre-pandemic levels. To promote Australia as a travel destination, the prime minister will oversee the signing of a memorandum of understanding between online travel giant - which owns popular bookings sites such as Skyscanner - and Tourism Australia. He will also unveil a new tourism campaign to air in China starring local film star Yu Shi and Ruby the Roo, an animated kangaroo voiced by Rose Byrne. Amid the positive rhetoric around Sino-Australian relations, Mr Albanese is doing his best to dodge the US-sized elephant in the room. Military tensions were highlighted by revelations that US defence strategist Elbridge Colby has been pushing Australia and Japan to clarify what role they would play in a potential conflict with China But acting Defence Minister Pat Conroy on Sunday reiterated Australia's long-established stance on whether it would join the US in a war. "The decision to commit Australian troops to a conflict will be made by the government of the day, not in advance," he told ABC's Insiders program. Football and tourism have been the focus of the prime minister's first full day in China as questions about Australia's participation in a potential future conflict with the Asian superpower overshadow his six-day tour. Former Socceroo Kevin Muscat joined Anthony Albanese on a morning walk along Shanghai's historic Bund promenade on Sunday to promote the two nations' interpersonal links. Now coaching Shanghai Port FC, Muscat last year became the first Australian manager to lead a Chinese Super League team to the premiership. The former midfield enforcer has brought over a host of Australian coaching staff, including fellow ex-Socceroo Ross Aloisi, in a sign of the deepening collaboration between Australia and China on the sporting field. A keen tennis player, Mr Albanese will also make an announcement about extending an Australian Open wildcard tournament in the southwestern city of Chengdu later in the visit. "One of the things about Australia and China that's so important is we build people-to-people relations and we do that by the participation of Australians here," the prime minister said. "Whether it be here in football, or whether it be the lead-in tournament that's going to take place in Chengdu for the Australian Open (or) the business relationships that we have here as well." Looking across the Huangpu River to the towering skyscrapers on the opposite bank, Mr Albanese reflected on the phenomenal economic transformation China had undergone in recent decades. That boom has seen no small benefit flow to Australia, whose iron ore exports helped build the Shanghai skyline and filled the federal government's coffers. "When I first came here in the 1990s, the area Pudong was very different indeed," Mr Albanese said in a meeting with local Chinese Communist Party official Chen Jining. "There were farms where there is now a great metropolis. "The development we can see across the river is symbolic of the extraordinary development that China has seen in recent decades, lifting literally hundreds of millions of people out of poverty and creating economic benefit for the people of China but also increased economic engagement with countries like Australia." A burgeoning Chinese middle class, with a new found appetite for travel, has flocked to Australia in recent decades though recent tourist numbers remain below pre-pandemic levels. To promote Australia as a travel destination, the prime minister will oversee the signing of a memorandum of understanding between online travel giant - which owns popular bookings sites such as Skyscanner - and Tourism Australia. He will also unveil a new tourism campaign to air in China starring local film star Yu Shi and Ruby the Roo, an animated kangaroo voiced by Rose Byrne. Amid the positive rhetoric around Sino-Australian relations, Mr Albanese is doing his best to dodge the US-sized elephant in the room. Military tensions were highlighted by revelations that US defence strategist Elbridge Colby has been pushing Australia and Japan to clarify what role they would play in a potential conflict with China But acting Defence Minister Pat Conroy on Sunday reiterated Australia's long-established stance on whether it would join the US in a war. "The decision to commit Australian troops to a conflict will be made by the government of the day, not in advance," he told ABC's Insiders program. Football and tourism have been the focus of the prime minister's first full day in China as questions about Australia's participation in a potential future conflict with the Asian superpower overshadow his six-day tour. Former Socceroo Kevin Muscat joined Anthony Albanese on a morning walk along Shanghai's historic Bund promenade on Sunday to promote the two nations' interpersonal links. Now coaching Shanghai Port FC, Muscat last year became the first Australian manager to lead a Chinese Super League team to the premiership. The former midfield enforcer has brought over a host of Australian coaching staff, including fellow ex-Socceroo Ross Aloisi, in a sign of the deepening collaboration between Australia and China on the sporting field. A keen tennis player, Mr Albanese will also make an announcement about extending an Australian Open wildcard tournament in the southwestern city of Chengdu later in the visit. "One of the things about Australia and China that's so important is we build people-to-people relations and we do that by the participation of Australians here," the prime minister said. "Whether it be here in football, or whether it be the lead-in tournament that's going to take place in Chengdu for the Australian Open (or) the business relationships that we have here as well." Looking across the Huangpu River to the towering skyscrapers on the opposite bank, Mr Albanese reflected on the phenomenal economic transformation China had undergone in recent decades. That boom has seen no small benefit flow to Australia, whose iron ore exports helped build the Shanghai skyline and filled the federal government's coffers. "When I first came here in the 1990s, the area Pudong was very different indeed," Mr Albanese said in a meeting with local Chinese Communist Party official Chen Jining. "There were farms where there is now a great metropolis. "The development we can see across the river is symbolic of the extraordinary development that China has seen in recent decades, lifting literally hundreds of millions of people out of poverty and creating economic benefit for the people of China but also increased economic engagement with countries like Australia." A burgeoning Chinese middle class, with a new found appetite for travel, has flocked to Australia in recent decades though recent tourist numbers remain below pre-pandemic levels. To promote Australia as a travel destination, the prime minister will oversee the signing of a memorandum of understanding between online travel giant - which owns popular bookings sites such as Skyscanner - and Tourism Australia. He will also unveil a new tourism campaign to air in China starring local film star Yu Shi and Ruby the Roo, an animated kangaroo voiced by Rose Byrne. Amid the positive rhetoric around Sino-Australian relations, Mr Albanese is doing his best to dodge the US-sized elephant in the room. Military tensions were highlighted by revelations that US defence strategist Elbridge Colby has been pushing Australia and Japan to clarify what role they would play in a potential conflict with China But acting Defence Minister Pat Conroy on Sunday reiterated Australia's long-established stance on whether it would join the US in a war. "The decision to commit Australian troops to a conflict will be made by the government of the day, not in advance," he told ABC's Insiders program.
Courier-Mail
an hour ago
- Courier-Mail
Albanese confirms status quo posture over Taiwan war
Don't miss out on the headlines from Breaking News. Followed categories will be added to My News. Anthony Albanese has been asked point blank what Australia would do if the US and China 'went to war over Taiwan'. Washington has reportedly been pressing Canberra on the matter as the Trump administration turns its attention to an 'imminent' China threat in the Indo Pacific. A Chinese invasion of Taiwan, which is democratically self-governing, would cause mayhem for global shipping lines and disrupt the supply of semiconductors — crucial tech components. Speaking to reporters in Shanghai, the Prime Minister struck a cautious tone. 'Our aim of investing in our capability and as well investing in our relationships, is about advancing peace and security in our region,' he said, as stone-faced Chinese officials watched from the sidelines. Mr Albanese said he had no plans of changing Australia's 'consistent position' on Taiwan's future. 'We support the status quo when it comes to Taiwan,' he said. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese meets with CEO Jane Sun (top right), Tourism Australia's Robin Mack (left bottom) Vice President of Edison Chen (right bottom) during a visit to in Shanghai, China. Picture: Joseph Olbrycht-Palmer / NewsWire 'We don't support any unilateral action there. We have a clear position, and we have been consistent about that.' In somewhat of a veiled shot at Trump administration, he went on to say it was 'important' in international relationships to 'have a stable, orderly, coherent position going forward'. 'Australia does we want peace and security in our region,' Mr Albanese said. 'We don't want any change to the status quo - that's Australia's position today, that was Australia's position last week, that's been a bipartisan position for a long period of time.' He was pressed on whether the US had sought assurances that any nuclear-powered submarines acquired under AUKUS would be deployed in a conflict over Taiwan. The prime minister struck a cautious tone during his Shanghai press conference. Picture: Joseph Olbrycht-Palmer / NewsWire Mr Albanese kept tight-lipped, only saying that 'through the AUKUS agreement' all stakeholder countries had 'very clear understandings of what AUKUS is for'. 'We want peace and security in our region,' he said. 'We don't change our position on a day to day basis - that is what the world needs and that is what we'll continue to do.' Pressed further on any private conversation with the Americans, Mr Albanese shot back: 'Private by definition, that's in private.' 'You don't take private comments at a media conference,' he said. 'We engage in a mature way. That's the way that we do with our relationships.' Originally published as Australia backs 'status quo' amid US pressure on Taiwan
West Australian
2 hours ago
- West Australian
PM backs status quo on Taiwan in face of US pressure to reveal intent in case of China invasion
Anthony Albanese has declined to reveal whether Australia would join the United States in a war with China over Taiwan or commit to deploying any of the nuclear-powered submarines it obtains under the AUKUS program. Reports that the Pentagon was urging Canberra to clarify its role in a potential conflict over the democratic island that Beijing has repeatedly threatened to invade landed with awkward timing for the Prime Minister. He arrived in Shanghai on Saturday night for a six-day China tour focused on boosting economic and trade ties. Sunday began with a sunny walk along the financial metropolis' iconic Bund with players and coaches from the Shanghai Port Football Club. It was soon overshadowed, however, by a report in the Financial Times that Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby had been pushing both Australia and Japan to offer assurances about their responses if a great power conflict was triggered over the strategically located Pacific island. Asked about the reported US demands during a press conference at headquarters to promote the Australian tourism sector, Mr Albanese suggested a position of strategic ambiguity, while adding that 'mature' conversations were happening in private. The Prime Minister said Australia's 'aim of investing in our capabilities as well as investing in our relationships is about advancing peace and security in our region.' China's ruling Communist Party has made territorial claims over Taiwan, even though it has never governed there, and has threatened to take the democracy of 23.5 million by force if it refuses to unify with the mainland. When it came to Australian deterrence strategies to avoid future conflict, Mr Albanese said it was 'important that we have a consistent position, which Australia has had for a long period of time; we support the status quo when it comes to Taiwan. We don't support any unilateral action there,' he said. 'What's important when it comes to international relationships is that you have a stable, orderly, coherent position going forward,' he added. 'We don't want any change to the status quo. That's Australia's position today. That was Australia's position last week. That's been a bipartisan position for a long period of time.' The Financial Times reported that Australian and Japanese officials had been caught off guard by the Pentagon's demands which went further than previous public calls from the White House for allies to raise military spending and take on more of the burden of collective defence. The deepening pressure for a commitment to a Taiwan contingency is all the more surprising as the US itself has an official policy of 'strategic ambiguity' on Taiwan, under which it does not say if it would defend the island if attacked by China. Mr Albanese was asked if it was 'reasonable for the United States to demand any sort of assurances from Australia on a Taiwan contingency, given the United States itself maintains a policy of strategic ambiguity?' 'You just answered the question yourself, I think, through the comments that you've made,' he responded. Elbridge Colby, a known China hawk who has long advocated for US allies to pick up more of the collective defence burden, is currently spearheading a review of the trilateral $368bn AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine pact that is central to Australia's national security strategy. In response to a tweet about the FT article overnight, Mr Colby neither dismissed the report nor referred directly to specific demands but he doubled down with a stern message that the US defence department was 'focussed on implementing the President's America First, common sense agenda of restoring deterrence and achieving peace through strength.' He said this included urging allies to 'step up their defence spending and other efforts related to our collective defence,' which had been a hallmark of the Trump strategy in Asia and Europe. 'Of course, some among our allies might not welcome frank conversations. But many, now led by NATO after the historic Hague Summit, are seeing the urgent need to step up and are doing so. President Trump has shown the approach and the formula - and we will not be deterred from advancing his agenda,' he said. In an interview on ABC Insiders on Sunday, Acting Defence Minister Pat Conroy said Australia had been advised that the much-awaited AUKUS review had not yet been completed. But he said the Government was confident the assessment would support the defence pact.
