China’s ambassador to Australia is preparing to launch a defence of Beijing’s actions in the Pacific in a national address.
Xiao Qian will address the National Press Club on Wednesday, his first such address since taking up the role of ambassador this year.
It comes amid heightened tensions in the region as the US and Australia work to counter Chinese influence in the Pacific after Beijing inked a security deal with the Solomon Islands earlier this year.
Beijing is also reportedly pushing for exclusive access to part of a strategic naval base in Cambodia, sparking concerns among Western allies.
While Australia’s strained relationship has somewhat thawed with ministerial meetings occurring post-election, Beijing has still taken aim at politicians for denouncing their tactics in the Taiwan Strait.
Beijing accused Foreign Minister Penny Wong of “finger pointing” after she last week condemned Beijing’s “disproportionate and destabilising” actions.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton says Australia needed to secure a submarine fleet as soon as possible given China’s more aggressive behaviour in the Pacific.
“The most important priority, particularly given where China is at the moment, is that we achieve the capability as quickly as possible,” he told Adelaide radio station 5AA.
“It provides a deterrence against any adversary.”
Mr Dutton says maintaining a domestic industry through the trilateral AUKUS alliance with the US and UK, under which the nuclear propelled submarines would be purchased, is integral to Australia’s national security.
“You have to demonstrate what the Americans call nuclear stewardship: that is, your ability domestically to be able to construct, to repair, and also to work on their fleet when it comes into dock as well,” he said.
But Australia will still need to rely on the US and UK for submarine maintenance.
In a joint submission to the recent international nuclear non-proliferation conference, the AUKUS nations worked to mitigate concerns about Australia possessing nuclear material by saying it would not be able to access the material.
This includes welded power units which mean Australia couldn’t conduct uranium enrichment or fuel fabrication.
The welded units mean the removal of nuclear material would be “extremely difficult” and would render the submarine inoperable, the AUKUS nations say.
