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No Australia/US/China war – Key issues
Little warning
In crisis-prone North Asia war – even nuclear war – could break out with little or no warning.
- Former US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage says "… we could wake up tomorrow and find a major war had broken out in Asia“. (Sydney Morning Herald, 13 April 2005)
- It’s our 21st century “sleeping” Cuban missile crisis – out of sight but ready to erupt at any time.
- There is no national contingency plan to deal with the possibility of a US/China war.
Australian involvement
Australia would be caught up in any US/China conflict through the ANZUS Treaty.
- But 79% of Australians surveyed by the Lowy Institute said NO to an Australia/US/China war over Taiwan. (www.lowyinstitute.org, 28 March 2005)
Australia as non-combatant honest broker
Australia has unique status with the US and China to act as non-combatant honest broker in the event of a war between the two.
- This role for Australia needs to be in place and firmly accepted by the US and China in advance of any war.
- Our politicians cannot and will not begin to negotiate this role for Australia unless there is strong widespread community support.
- The intention here is not to repudiate the ANZUS Treaty; rather to limit its ambit so as not to include automatic Australian involvement in a US/China war.
The costs of war
Our $11 billion annual exports to China – almost 10% of our national exports – will grow exponentially until China becomes our main export market within two decade. (Sydney Morning Herald, Online 24 March 2005)
- How can we ever contemplate joining a war between our two major trading partners?
What kinds of circumstances can be envisaged for all Australians of Asian descent in the event of a war with China?
- There are more than 100,000 Australians of Chinese descent living all over the country. What will happen to them if Australia is in a war with China?
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