By Oyintari Ben
According to Australia’s Defence Minister, Richard Marles, Australia has “definitely” not promised to back the United States in a battle over Taiwan in exchange for American Virginia-class submarines.
Last week, Australia, the US, and Britain announced the multi-decade AUKUS project, under which Australia will purchase American military submarines prior to combined British and Australian manufacturing and operation of a new submarine class, SSN-AUKUS.
According to Australia’s centre-left Labour administration, the A$368 billion ($244.06 billion) contract is vital given China’s military buildup in the region, which it has dubbed the greatest since World War Two.
When asked on ABC television if Australia had committed the US to aid in a battle over Taiwan in exchange for access to American naval submarines, Marles responded, “Of course not, and there was no one solicited.
Taiwan, which is democratically governed, rejects China’s claim to Taiwan as its territory.
Marles responded, “Certainly not,” when asked if there was a “quid pro quo” owed to the United States as a result of the submarine sale.
According to the AUKUS agreement, which Beijing has denounced as a nuclear proliferation scheme but which Asian allies have welcomed, the United States will sell Australia three General Dynamics-built Virginia class submarines in the early 2030s with an option for two more.
Anthony Albanese, the prime minister of Australia, has stated that the initiative will begin with a A$6 billion investment over the following four years to build a submarine base and the nation’s submarine shipyards and train skilled people.
Australia will also contribute A$3 billion to boost the capacity of British and American shipyards, with the majority of the funds going towards accelerating the production of Virginia-class submarines for the United States.
