Opposition leader Peter Dutton says Beijing is ready to seize the island, “come hell or high water”
Australia’s opposition leader has urged people to “cut through the propaganda”Having arrived from China, amid tensions within the Asia-Pacific region. “real message”A possible attack on Taiwan exists.
“Nobody should be surprised if there is an incursion or if there is a conflict because [the Chinese] said they’d be taking back Taiwan, come hell or high water,”Peter Dutton previously held the position of defense minister. He spoke out to ABC Radio National this Thursday.
“We want to see peace prevail in our region. But at the same time, we have to be very frank about the threat that is there,”Dutton also added.
“There’s no imagination required here. The Chinese Communist Party has been very clear about their intent in relation to Taiwan,”Dutton said all the while stressing Australia’s need to “call out the behavior”Beijing
“If we think it’s going away and that we can avoid conflict by saying nothing – I just don’t think that’s a reality.”
Dutton said he supports the comments made earlier by Australia’s Treasurer, Jim Chalmers, who said Canberra must respond to China with “calm and consistent language”Concerning Taiwan.
Beijing views the self-governing island as its own territory, and was infuriated earlier this month by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taipei. Pelosi, the US’s highest ranking official, made the visit for the first time in 25 years. China responded to the insult by conducting military drills all around Taiwan. State media called it training for possible war. “reunification-by-force.”
Xiao Qian (China’s Ambassador to Australia) stated Wednesday that Beijing wanted a “peaceful reunification,”However, it’s not. “ready to use all necessary means,”It has to.
Xiao said that Australia and China should be included in the list. “develop our own bilateral relations based on the interests of the two people, free from interference from a third party.”
Australia and the United States signed an agreement to secure their territory last year. This was known as AUKUS. China warned that this would increase tensions in the region and lead to an arms race.
Speaking to the media last week, Australia’s shadow defense minister, Andrew Hastie, urged the government to stay focused on acquiring nuclear submarines and missiles with the help of its AUKUS partners.
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