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Blinken, Austin visits Australia/Discussions on the threat posed by China

2023-07-28 19:14:01, Kosova & Bota CNA

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin are visiting Australia as part of a tour of Pacific Island nations to discuss economic and security issues. Washington's focus on the larger Indo-Pacific region comes as China's influence and threatening actions in the region grow. Meetings with senior Australian officials also focused on Australia's purchase of three US nuclear-powered submarines.

As he welcomed the two senior American officials to Brisbane, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasized the strong relations between the two countries.

" The relationship between Australia and the United States has never been stronger. This comes at a time of strategic competition in our region ," he said.

Secretary of State Anthony Blinken shared the same attitude during the meeting with his counterpart, Penny Wong. He said the United States has no greater partner than Australia.

" In particularly challenging times, it makes a big difference to have close friends and partners as we face challenges around the world and also try to find opportunities to make progress ."

The visit of Secretary of State Blinken and Defense Secretary Austin also focused on the AUKUS agreement between the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom. Based on it, Australia will buy three so-called 'Virginia' type submarines from the United States, as well as build five new submarines in cooperation with Britain. The Virginia-class submarines, in service with the United States Navy, are the latest type of fast, nuclear-powered attack submarines. But Australian media attention was focused on a letter signed by more than 20 Republican lawmakers to President Joe Biden warning the deal would "greatly weaken the US fleet" in the absence of what they say is a plan to increase submarine production. american.

But Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed confidence that he would guarantee bipartisan political support from the United States regarding the submarine issue.

" I have a lot of faith. And I'm looking forward to visiting the United States in the coming months and I'm sure it will be a good visit ."

The Albanian Prime Minister plans to make state visits to both the United States of America and China before the end of the year. "Wilson" center expert Shihoko Goto, says that Australia considers the issue of security important.

" In Australia, the issue of having new and greater defense capabilities is an important issue to avoid some of the threats coming from China ."

And China was one of the topics that dominated meetings in Australia. During the meeting with his counterpart, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin accused Beijing of a disturbing and aggressive approach in the Indo-Pacific region, which China has rejected.

" We seek a region where all countries are safe and prosperous, where states follow international law and norms, and where disputes are resolved peacefully, without coercion. We have observed disturbing intimidation practices by China, from the East China Sea, to the South China Sea and all the way to the Southwest Pacific. But we will continue to support our allies and partners as they defend themselves against this behavior ."

Before visiting Australia, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin visited New Zealand. They invited this country to become part of the AUKUS security pact. American Institute of Peace expert Brian Harding says that Washington is making a big push to cultivate ties with this region.

" Washington is now treating the Pacific Islands more seriously than it has since 1945, at the end of the Pacific war. Part of this deeper commitment is the opening of American embassies ," he said.

During this week, Secretaries Blinken and Austin visited Papua New Guinea and Tonga. Mr. Austin became the first American Secretary of Defense to visit Papua New Guinea, while Mr. Blinken was the first Secretary of State to visit Tonga, where the new United States embassy was opened./ VOA