China has now launched a barrage of claims about Australia’s AUKUS alliance and nuclear submarine acquisitions. Not one of these claims stands any scrutiny at all. The nation now crowding the seas with weapons has a problem with us getting a few subs? How fascinating.
Also cited is a possible Australian acquisition of nuclear arms. This claim is made as China upgrades its own nuclear arsenal. Both claims are simply China accusing Australia of what China has been doing itself for some years.
A quick breakdown:
- The nuclear submarines are a response to a perceived potentially serious threat in our region as well as generational upgrades. Guess where that threat originates.
- The idea of the nuclear subs is to deliver a lot of punch where it’s needed, in both the Pacific and in reply to any threats from the north.
- Australia could have acquired nuclear weapons in the 1960s. We didn’t. We figured that there were quite enough nukes around without any help from us. The nukes made very little sense in context with our regional military issues and needs.
- There’s no strategic value at all to us or our allies in our acquiring nukes. World War 3 is hardly likely to be decided by a few Aussie nukes, anyway.
- “Acquiring” nuclear weapons wouldn’t be much of an issue for us except for the related infrastructure and logistics. We have about a third of the world’s uranium and we could probably brew up a few shopping trolleys worth of weapons-grade material, but why?
- These days we could even make a pretty simplistic case for nukes based on the current levels of insane nuclear rhetoric from various parties. We’re not even thinking of doing that. It’s too absurd. The decision not to acquire nukes was right.
Missing the point, just like Russia
China seems to have overlooked the fact that the world is now rearming thanks largely to Russian aggression in Ukraine. Threats breed responses. Russian nuclear rhetoric has also antagonized the West and the rest of the world very thoroughly. This primitive “big stick” insanity should have played itself out after the Cold War. No encores will be tolerated, and nor will nuclear blackmail.
At this rate, the world will be armed to the teeth. There’s a sudden push for upgrades and new systems worldwide. Even Germany has started to reboot its military, in drastic contrast to German policy in recent decades.
Is it so surprising that Australia should also be looking at new defense options? Like Germany, we could be on the borders of a major conflict at any time, thanks to rather conspicuous regional bullying, among other things.
What are we supposed to do?
Start knitting our own submarines?
We’re pretty used to absurd claims from China, but this one is so utterly unrealistic it’s almost unique. Does someone in China seriously imagine we have nothing better to do with our time and money than fight stupid, pointless, wars?
Why isn’t China focusing on reaping the benefits of its own miraculous economic achievements? What possible use could any sort of major war be to China? Is there anything at all to be gained? If so, what? A planet turned to radioactive cinders might be a tough place to do business with, you know.
…Because that’s what will happen. Also consider the logic – Russia is talking nukes in the absolute 100% certainty of getting fried itself if it starts a nuclear war. Does that make sense? How?
Just one more thing, but it might make sense to someone – In the last century, all the major international wars have been lost by the aggressors.
Point made?
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Disclaimer
The opinions expressed in this Op-Ed are those of the author. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Digital Journal or its members.
