skynews– Prime Minister Scott Morrison has hit back at French anger over the terminated submarine deal and denies military conflict with China is “inevitable” in an increasingly militarised Indo-Pacific.
Mr Morrison made the comments in an interview with Margaret Brennan on US television show, CBS News.
The Australian Prime Minister addressed French anger over the decision to break Australia’s 2016 deal to purchase 12 conventionally powered submarines from France, claiming the contract allowed Australia to change its mind.
“We had a contract for procuring submarines that had gates in the contract which gave us the option.
“If we didn’t believe that we should continue, then for any number of reasons- in our case, what these submarines could do no longer meet the strategic need that Australia had. So we’ve exercised our option under the contract not to proceed.”
Brennan asked if Mr Morrison regretted “not being direct with the French” – a claim he denied.
“We were very clear that we had deep concerns that conventional submarines would no longer do the job. We had discussions about that. And at the end of the day, we didn’t see the situation the same,” he replied.
“We had sought- we had communicated that and unfortunately that contract was not going to be able to proceed because the submarine was not going to do the job we needed.”
“So I understand the disappointment. Of course, they would be disappointed. But this is a contractual matter and it will be resolved, I believe, amicably.”
Discussing the militarisation of China, the Australian Prime Minister said, “The escalation predates our decision.”
“There’s been an increased militarisation of the Indo-Pacific for many, many years and we’ve seen that escalating for some time.”
Since the beginning of the pandemic relations between China and Australia have deteriorated over a series of provocative trade tariffs imposed by Beijing upon Australian exports.
Despite escalating tensions, Mr Morrison said war with China was not “inevitable” and claimed Beijing and Washington were both in favour of “happy coexistence”.
“I certainly don’t see it (war) as inevitable and I think it’s all completely avoidable,” he said.
“Those issues, though, are going to be resolved principally between the United States and China. They are not issues that are going to be resolved directly by Australia.”
“I welcome the move that President Biden is making to connect with President Xi and seek to find that place where we can respect our differences, focus on the things we can work together on.”
“But at all times we have to be a sovereign nation to stand up for the values and beliefs that we hold. I think that’s a prerequisite to a happy coexistence.”
Asked whether China was trying to “coerce” Australia, Mr Morrison said, “we’ve experienced some difficulties in the relationship” and cited the free press and human rights as points of difference.
Mr Morrison said the eight nuclear submarines acquired through the new AUKUS deal with the US and UK were key for preserving national security and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
“Australia is a long way from everywhere and in order to ensure that our security interests are best protected, we need to have a long reach and a long range,” he said.
“We have to take decisions in our national interest to ensure we have adequate defences and an adequate way of providing stability in the region, not just for Australia, but all of our friends.”
Asked by Brennan whether the Quad partnership was an anti-China alliance, Mr Morrison said it was a “positive” relationship interested in protecting peace and freedom.
“It’s not about being against something, it’s about being for something. That’s how we look at it,” he said.
It comes after a two-hour in-person meeting between Mr Morrison and other Quad leaders at the White House on Friday who are committed to resisting Chinese pressure and coercion.
The Quad alliance includes United States President Joe Biden, Prime Minister Morrison, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
