Ministers' trip to US shows 'seriousness of situation'
The fact that Australia is sending two of its most senior government ministers to the US for defence talks shows the seriousness of the situation, according to the US Studies Centre’s James Brown. Foreign Minister Marise Payne and Defence Minister Linda Reynolds opted for an in-person visit for the Australia–US Ministerial Consultation (AUSMIN) talks despite the offer of an online briefing. “It’s a time when there’s deep competition between the US and China,” Mr Brown told Sky News. “I think it’s really important the ministers have made the effort to go to the United States, nothing replaces the person-to-person diplomacy. Discussions are expected to centre on the disputed Spratly islands in the South China Sea. The US is calling for "concrete cooperation" with "freedom of navigation exercises" asking for Australia to sail within 12 nautical miles of the islands - a move Australia has rejected. Australia did label China's claims to the islands "illegal" through the United Nations which enraged the Asian superpower. Both ministers will be forced into quarantine when they return to Australia.
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The fact that Australia is sending two of its most senior government ministers to the US for defence talks shows the seriousness of the situation, according to the US Studies Centre’s James Brown. Foreign Minister Marise Payne and Defence Minister Linda Reynolds opted for an in-person visit for the Australia–US Ministerial Consultation (AUSMIN) talks despite the offer of an online briefing. “It’s a time when there’s deep competition between the US and China,” Mr Brown told Sky News. “I think it’s really important the ministers have made the effort to go to the United States, nothing replaces the person-to-person diplomacy. Discussions are expected to centre on the disputed Spratly islands in the South China Sea. The US is calling for "concrete cooperation" with "freedom of navigation exercises" asking for Australia to sail within 12 nautical miles of the islands - a move Australia has rejected. Australia did label China's claims to the islands "illegal" through the United Nations which enraged the Asian superpower. Both ministers will be forced into quarantine when they return to Australia.
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