Pentagon’s Austin accuses China of ‘bullying’ in Indo-Pacific

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met together with his Australian counterpart in Brisbane on Friday forward of a ministerial assembly the place he will probably be joined by Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Topping his dialog with Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, who additionally serves because the nation’s protection minister, was the U.S. nationwide safety technique that identifies the Indo-Pacific as America’s precedence overseas theater.

The U.S. and Australia are involved about China’s aggressive effort to say its authority all through the huge area, Mr. Austin stated.

“We’ve seen troubling [Chinese] coercion from the East China Sea to the South China Sea to right here in the Southwest Pacific,” Mr. Austin stated. “We’ll continue to support our allies and partners as they defend themselves from bullying behavior.”

The protection and overseas coverage chiefs are additionally anticipated to debate the trilateral AUKUS settlement, meant to allow the U.K. and U.S. to assist Australia receive its personal nuclear-powered submarine fleet.

“We seek a region where all countries are secure and prosperous, where states follow international law and international norms, and where disputes are resolved peacefully without coercion,” Mr. Austin stated.