Arthur Sinodinos: China’s coercion in Indo-Pacific is bigger threat than another 9/11

·

Australia’s Ambassador to the United States, Arthur Sinodinos, has said China’s coercion in the Indo-Pacific is now a bigger threat than September 11-style terrorism.

“The geostrategic challenge in the Indo-Pacific, with the rise of China, is pre-eminent in US minds. It’s pre-eminent in all of our minds – it’s our neighbourhood,” Ambassador Sinadinos told The Australia Financial Review (AFR).

“But to the extent that there’s a terror threat, we’re in a much stronger, more sophisticated position to deal with that threat than we were 20 years ago. We’ve learnt a lot, we’ve deployed assets in new ways to deal with that.”

Mr Sinadinos added that the strategic ANZUS alliance will be stronger in coming months as both Australia and the US hasten military and economic tie-ups to counter intimidation from Beijing.

“The US is very determined that the major geostrategic challenge is the Indo-Pacific and they want to play their role in that region,” he told the newspaper.

“The trips to the region by senior officials Antony Blinken, Lloyd Austin and more recently, the Vice-President [Kamala Harris], all put clothes on the rhetoric about further pivoting to the Indo-Pacific.

“The feedback we get from officials within the administration is that leaving Afghanistan is part of their strategy of further concentrating their efforts in the Indo-Pacific, and you can expect that there’ll be more US engagement, on both defence and security, trade and economy in the region.

“It will be ANZUS-plus.”

Mr Sinodinos added he wanted to make sure Australia took part in shaping policy on the involvement in wars and their exit strategies in the future and that an investigation into the Afghan war was essential.

“As a country that was there for 20 years alongside the Americans, I think Australia will be doing its part to help shape those policies, views, visions and outlines,” he said.

“I think we’ll be active in that process because you know we expended quite a bit of blood and treasure. And we more than earned our seat at the table.”

Source: The Australian Financial Review.

greek film festival sydney new

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Sydney shines as Greek Film Festival celebrates 30 years of cinema and culture

The 30th Greek Film Festival of Sydney opened in spectacular fashion on Tuesday night with Kapetan Mihalis.

Celebrate the 113th anniversary of Lesvos’ liberation at Mytilenian House in Sydney

The Mytilenian Brotherhood of Sydney and NSW is set to celebrate the 113th Anniversary of the Liberation of the Island of Lesvos.

Luncheon raises $95,000 for Holy Monastery of St John in Western Australia

The Greek Orthodox Diocese of Perth hosted a fundraising luncheon on Sunday, October 12, at the Archdiocese Conference Room in Dianella.

‘Kapetan Mihalis’ opens 30th Greek Film Festival in Melbourne

The 30th Greek Film Festival, presented by the Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM), officially opened Tuesday, October 14.

Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Ioannis Loverdos strengthens bilateral ties in Canberra

Greece’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Greeks Abroad, Ioannis Loverdos, has continued his official visit to Australia in Canberra.

You May Also Like

With a commitment to build on its legacy, Fronditha Care marks 45 years service to Greek community

With a commitment to build on its legacy, Fronditha Care marks 45 years service to Greek community. CEO Faye Spiteri shares her opinion.

Australian Community Media prepares to sell seven news publications

Australian Community Media is preparing to sell up to seven mastheads as the newspaper business is dealing with rising print costs.

Second luxury pad owned by Bill Papas sold in NSW

Forum Finance liquidators have sold the second NSW Central Coast waterfront property of alleged fraudster Bill Papas.