Inside Out | First the Quad, now ‘Aukus’: why the US is talking up the China threat

Name: US, UK, Australia announce ‘historic’ military partnership in Pacific
Uploaded: 2021-09-19T19:30:27.000Z
Duration: 3 min 51 s
Description: US, UK, Australia announce ‘historic’ military partnership in Pacific

The Biden administration needs the US public on its side with midterm elections looming and control of the Senate and Congress hanging by a thread. There is no electoral choice but to look tough

Reading Time:4 minutes

Why you can trust SCMP

US President Joe Biden unveils the Aukus security initiative in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on September 15, with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison (left) and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Photo: EPA-EFE

David Dodwell

Published: 3:30am, 20 Sep 2021

My plan had been to dedicate today’s column to the US-China trade war, and China’s progress (or lack of it) in boosting US imports by US$200 billion from 2017 levels by the end of this year.

But along came the “Aukus” bombshell, with the United States agreeing to build nuclear submarines in Australia, even as it prepares to host a Quadrilateral Security Dialogue summit on strengthening Asia-Pacific security arrangements, on September 24.

These US announcements are more significant for what they do not say. The US is not giving priority to trade – with China, the Asia-Pacific, or the World Trade Organization, which is preparing for its long-delayed 12th Ministerial Conference in November.

It is not giving priority to preparations for COP26, the UN Climate Change Conference. It is not giving priority to the Armageddon legacy in Afghanistan. It is not giving priority to bringing the global pandemic under control and rebuilding the foundations for restoring global economic growth.

One could argue that this is because the intelligence and security wonks at the heart of the US “military-industrial complex” have captured policy primacy in the White House.

03:51

US, UK, Australia announce ‘historic’ military partnership in Pacific

Except I have the sense that foreign policy issues pale next to the huge domestic issues preoccupying President Joe Biden and the Democratic administration, concerned above all else about retaining control of the Senate and Congress through next year’s midterm elections.

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}Inside Out | First the Quad, now ‘Aukus’: why the US is talking up the China threat

Inside Out | First the Quad, now ‘Aukus’: why the US is talking up the China threat