(TibetanReview.net, Nov14’21) – Australia has on Nov 13 vowed to join the United States in any action to defend Taiwan from any Chinese move to alter its status quo. It would be “inconceivable” for Australia not to join the United States should Washington take action to defend Taiwan, Reuters Nov 13 cited Australian Defence Minister Peter Dutton as saying.
Earlier, on Nov10 US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said the United States and its allies would take unspecified “action” if China were to use force to alter the status quo over Taiwan.
“It would be inconceivable that we wouldn’t support the US in an action if the US chose to take that action,” Dutton has told The Australian newspaper in an interview.
“And, again, I think we should be very frank and honest about that, look at all of the facts and circumstances without pre-committing, and maybe there are circumstances where we wouldn’t take up that option, (but) I can’t conceive of those circumstances.”
Blinken’s remark had come a day after China’s military said it had conducted a combat readiness patrol in the direction of the Taiwan Strait. This was after China’s Defence Ministry condemned a visit by a US congressional delegation to Taiwan.
“(China’s) been very clear about their intent to go into Taiwan and we need to make sure that there is a high level of preparedness, a greater sense of deterrence by our capability, and that is how I think we put our country in a position of strength,” Dutton has said.
