Why my hero Keating is wrong on China and our national security

on Wednesday, Keating colourfully and rightly highlighted the narrowness of Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s foreign and defence policies, yet his attacks reveal that – like Morrison – he has fallen into the trap of binary thinking: that Australia’s only choice is between a declining United States or a rising China.

It is only one defence element in what should be a much broader multilateral diplomatic, defence and development engagement in the Indo-Pacific. We need a deeper collaboration with our partners to prop up and secure the liberal, rules-based order on trade and security. I have called this a “fulcrum of middle powers” that works with enough strategic weight to prop up that order.

Keating is wilfully blind to China’s international aggression through cyber-attacks, which have caused major disruption to our university and corporate sectors., as Keating describes it, be let through to the keeper. China is knowingly breaking international law to create an artificial border risks freedom of navigation in international waters, which are critical to our trade and prosperity.

But Keating misses the main point. The US can’t play this role alone anymore. The Afghanistan and Iraq wars have weakened the US and China has become more powerful. The US must work with nations in the region, such as Australia, to protect the liberal rules-based order.Increasing our own capabilities means we do have to become more independent and commit more diplomatic, defence and development resources to this effort. It does not mean we must be wedded to the US.

This is a disingenuous cheap shot at the SMH's old nemesis, Keating who will never be forgiven for thinking independently & having more great ideas before breakfast than the SMH's low altitude flying, all-tip-no-iceberg CEO Costello in his life. LNP jealousy really is a curse!

Peter must've missed the fine print on the US sub deal, to largely increase the US' troops presence in Australia + be a weapons storage for the US. It's in that context Keating was saying we are becoming wedded to US imperialist goals.

Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Labor MPs lash Paul Keating for China commentsLabor MPs have blasted former prime minister Paul Keating for claiming the federal opposition was complicit in the Morrison government’s surrender of its military to the US as part of a new defence pact to build nuclear-powered submarines. Paul Hmm $$$ ScottMorrisonMP paulsakkal Who is Paul Keating?
Source: smh - 🏆 6. / 80 Read more »

China wipes $344 billion off cryptoCryptocurrency has taken another substantial hit overnight, wiping $344 billion off the market in a single 24 hours after panicked buyers sold off their tokens.
Source: newscomauHQ - 🏆 9. / 77 Read more »

‘I couldn’t function’: Why Tiff Hall’s family staged an ‘intervention’Tiffiny Hall has recalled how her family was forced to stage an “intervention” after she became so burnt out while filming as many as 50 workout videos a day.
Source: newscomauHQ - 🏆 9. / 77 Read more »

Why Prince Andrew missed Princess Beatrice giving birthAs Sarah Ferguson dashed to see her new granddaughter after Princess Beatrice gave birth to her first child at the weekend, the baby’s granddad Prince Andrew had to send his apologies to avoid lawyers slapping him with a sex-claim writ. i think her dad was busy preparing...
Source: newscomauHQ - 🏆 9. / 77 Read more »

Aussie economy at huge risk from ChinaIron ore’s price has experienced a staggering fall to $US90 a tonne causing shockwaves in the share market, as experts warn Australia’s economy is in a worse position than any other nation. Cuz Morrison bought few old school toys ? When iron ore is at a low price then it maybe logical to start to produce our own steel using hydrogen. Then we may become a major world green steel exporter. CCP China are a major steel exporter now using our ore. If low price then create a sustainable greener market ourselves. Well thanks Scomo for pissing the Chinese off and now the French....
Source: newscomauHQ - 🏆 9. / 77 Read more »

‘Brainless’ Australia a target for ‘nuclear war’, warns top China expertChina has gone all out in its tantrum against Australia, with a top academic warning that we are now a target for “nuclear war” because of our submarine deal with the United States and Britain. Great....just great....but on the flip side, Madge is staying at the Tiges!!! 🤪 Shutup China. We will crush you! 💪 He's not wrong. Australia should see itself before blindly follow others 👍🏻🙂
Source: newscomauHQ - 🏆 9. / 77 Read more »