Greens’ question China sealane threat as AUKUS in-doubt
Greens Senator David Shoebridge questioned whether China would seek to block sea lanes with Australia and warned Canberra “not to go on the warpath with Washington” as debate over the future of the AUKUS agreement heats up.
The military deal faced renewed pressure this week, including rebellions from Labor Party ranks, after it was revealed Australia would buy three used Virginia Class submarines from the US instead of two used and one new ship.
Senator Shoebridge, a harsh critic of AUKUS, called for “a very realistic view of China” on Sunday.
“We have to look at what our region is doing as it tries to find a balanced approach towards China and not get on the warpath with Washington,” he told ABC, noting Beijing’s military buildup in the South China Sea.
“The path to war with Washington is one of the most dangerous responses we can have to the growth of a major regional power… We must have a complex relationship with China, but it should not be run entirely on Washington’s profits.”
Asked whether there was a risk of China blocking the sea lanes Australia relies on, Senator Shoebridge said any country with a significant military “could use that military in its own national interest”.
When pressed, he asked: “Why would China close the sea lanes connecting Australia and China, which provide critical and necessary supplies to the Chinese economy?” he asked.
“If there is a conflict between the United States and China, then I think global trade is really at risk,” he said.
“I think we should be very frank about this. If there is a serious conflict between the USA and China, then not only the sea lanes are at risk, our entire region is at risk and the world economy is at risk…”
Addressing AUKUS, Senator Shoebridge said Australia must be able to defend its “maritime approaches”.
“We need to be able to defend the Australian continent. We need to be able to defend our air and sea space,” he said.
“But the idea that an economy the size of Australia could have a global policing role on sea lanes…”
Asked whether Australia needed submarines, Senator Shoebridge said they were “the only option” and that Australia should have a mix of manned and unmanned platforms.
“I think the question of very expensive, vulnerable crewed submarines is an open question in defense circles,” he said.
But when asked what assets Australia needed, Senator Shoebridge said “it is not my job to calculate defense portfolio purchases”.
“I can tell you one thing: nuclear submarines are a disaster on almost every front,” he said.
“Why are we inviting ourselves into a US war with China?”
This comes after former Labor Minister Peter Garrett announced this week that a public inquiry into the AUKUS agreement would be launched.
The decade-long deal has faced questions amid fears about shipbuilding capabilities in the US and UK and whether those countries (especially Washington) will sign off on the delivery of submarines given the current threat environment.
Concerns have also been raised about Australia’s sovereign control over the ship, particularly in the event of a US war with China.
This week, former Labor minister and current supporter Ed Husic called for a rethink of the AUKUS agreement.
