Key facts
- Former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating believes Aukus will lock Australia into a US war with China over Taiwan.
- Keating stated the US would 'certainly lose' such a war and leave Australia vulnerable to Chinese retribution.
- Republican congressman Michael McCaul said Australia is a target for US enemies.
- McCaul suggested US nuclear-powered submarines in Australia could be nuclear armed after 2032.
- McCaul indicated the US military assumes Australia's involvement in a Taiwan conflict.
- Greens senator David Shoebridge called Australia a 'beachhead' for US military action against China under Aukus.
Former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating has strongly criticized the Aukus security pact, arguing it is entangling Australia in a potential US military conflict with China over Taiwan, a war he believes the US would lose. Keating asserted that such a conflict would leave Australia vulnerable to Chinese retribution, especially after participating in a US military action.
Keating's remarks follow comments from Republican congressman Michael McCaul, who stated that Australia is already a target for US adversaries. McCaul, co-chair of the Congressional Friends of Australia caucus, suggested that greater integration with the US military would enhance Australia's security, rather than leaving it more vulnerable. He also indicated that US nuclear-powered submarines rotating through Australian bases could be nuclear-armed after 2032 and that the US military establishment assumes Australia's participation in any war over Taiwan.
McCaul met with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Defence Minister Richard Marles, and Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong during a visit to Australia. Keating further argued that Australia's increasing integration with the US military through Aukus is effectively 'shredding' its sovereignty, locking it into American military prerogatives. The Guardian previously reported that the US military and its corporate interests control or have access to over 100 military bases in Australia, with more than half having some level of US control or access.
Greens senator David Shoebridge echoed concerns, seizing on McCaul's description of Australia as a 'beachhead' for US efforts to deter China. Shoebridge warned that a beachhead is a place where people die in someone else's war and questioned how Aukus makes Australia safe when nuclear-armed submarines are being brought into the country, with the stated intention of making it a frontline in a potential conflict with China.