Speaking on Thursday, Mr Morrison said the reinforced security alliance with the United States and Britain, which will include cooperation on artificial intelligence and other emerging technology, reflects the need for more dangerous mobility in the Asia-Pacific region.
“The relatively benign environment we have enjoyed in our region for many decades is behind us,” he said without directly mentioning China. “We have entered a new era with new challenges for Australia and our partners.”
Some security analysts have argued that China’s recent retaliation against Australia – including a reduction in imports of coal, wine, beef, lobster and barley – as well as the detention of at least two Australians of Chinese origin Has – has pushed Australia in this direction. of Americans. . China may grow in response Its own campaign of economic sanctions. Australia seems to have calculated that Beijing has little interest in improving relations.
“I think the fear of doing this would have become more pronounced three or four years ago, maybe even two years ago,” said Euan Graham, an Asia-Pacific security analyst at the Singapore-based International Institute for Strategic Studies. . “But once your relationship is about punishment and humiliation, it is already worth it. China does not have the advantage of fear, to be angry, because it is angry all the time.”
According to critics of Australia’s sentencing in the United States, a burning question is whether Washington will measure up. Ever since President Barack Obama announced a “pivot to Asia” while speaking in front of Australia’s parliament in 2011, America’s allies have been waiting for a decisive shift in resources and attention. For the most part, they have been disappointed.
Dr. Graham said the submarine deal would reduce that criticism. As for other allies such as Japan and South Korea, he said: “It begs the question of whether the US is still embroiled in its coalition network in this part of the world.”