The Guardian
Singapore backs Aukus and says Australia could play ‘bigger role’ in regional security
Story by Daniel Hurst Foreign affairs and defence correspondent • Yesterday 7:20 pm - 1-5-2023
Wong said while they may use a different form of words, both countries agreed on the need for guardrails to manage tensions between the US and China to lower the chance of miscalculation or escalation.
The deputy prime minister and defence minister, Richard Marles, said Australia and Singapore wanted to play their parts in creating “pathways for peace” at a time of “great strategic complexity and significant strategic threat”.
Marles also said the Albanese government regarded Singapore’s energy security “as profoundly important in terms of Australia’s national interest”.
“We made very clear to our Singaporean counterparts that Australia will continue to be a completely reliable partner in terms of the provision of energy into the Singaporean market and that includes the provision of gas,” Marles said.
Last week the Chinese foreign ministry responded to the defence review by urging countries not to “hype up the so-called China threat narrative”.
But the issue is not expected to disrupt further efforts to “stabilise” the diplomatic relationship between Australia and China, its biggest trading partner.
Photograph: Lukas Coch/EPA
© Provided by The Guardian
Singapore backs Aukus and says Australia could play ‘bigger role’ in regional security
Story by Daniel Hurst Foreign affairs and defence correspondent • Yesterday 7:20 pm - 1-5-2023
Wong said while they may use a different form of words, both countries agreed on the need for guardrails to manage tensions between the US and China to lower the chance of miscalculation or escalation.
The deputy prime minister and defence minister, Richard Marles, said Australia and Singapore wanted to play their parts in creating “pathways for peace” at a time of “great strategic complexity and significant strategic threat”.
Marles also said the Albanese government regarded Singapore’s energy security “as profoundly important in terms of Australia’s national interest”.
“We made very clear to our Singaporean counterparts that Australia will continue to be a completely reliable partner in terms of the provision of energy into the Singaporean market and that includes the provision of gas,” Marles said.
Last week the Chinese foreign ministry responded to the defence review by urging countries not to “hype up the so-called China threat narrative”.
But the issue is not expected to disrupt further efforts to “stabilise” the diplomatic relationship between Australia and China, its biggest trading partner.
Photograph: Lukas Coch/EPA
© Provided by The Guardian
3 yr. ago
