Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that Australia should reconsider its plan to potentially purchase a fleet of Soryu submarines from Japan. Reuters reports that Wang’s comment was based on China’s antagonistic relationship with Japan due to the latter’s conduct during World War II. China is concerned about Australia entering into any type of military cooperation pact with Japan, as it does not want Japan to become more militarized. However, the U.S. would prefer to see two of its Pacific allies working more strongly together, as that could help to balance China’s influence in the region. Australia is looking at offers from Germany and France, as well as Japan, and the Australian Foreign Minister dismissed Wang’s concerns.
Access all of The Cipher Brief’s national security-focused expert insight by becoming a Cipher Brief Subscriber+
Member.
Related Articles
Riding the Tiger: Why Xi and Putin’s ‘Axis of Autocracies’ Could End the Way Churchill Predicted
“Dictators,” Churchill observed, “ride to and fro on tigers from which they dare not dismount.” “And,” he added, “the tigers are getting [...] More
To Counter China, Reform U.S. Intelligence for the Digital Age
EXPERT PERSPECTIVE / OPINION -- The United States is facing a quiet and rapidly growing threat across the digital landscape, an unseen mathematical [...] More
An Urgent Call to Close the Loopholes on Chips and China
EXPERT PERSPECTIVE / OPINION -- The core lessons from the Cold War should guide us as we face the new “Axis of Aggressors” today. First among these, [...] More
