China offers olive branch to Australian defence minister Christopher Pyne
- Beijing tries to improve military relations with key US ally amid its growing rivalry with Washington
- Australia has taken America’s side in the South China Sea dispute, a move some analysts believe has unsettled Beijing
China is seeking to push a closer military bond with Australia amid its escalating rivalry with the US in Asia-Pacific, especially in the South China Sea.
Although Australia, one of the closest US allies, has been vocal in its criticism of Beijing’s activities in the disputed waters, both sides tried to use Australian defence minister Christopher Pyne’s visit to China last week to improve relations.
But in a speech to a regional security forum in Singapore on Monday, Pyne urged China to act responsibly in the South China Sea and avoid a “might is right” approach.
“We are not interested in containing China, but we are interested in engaging and encouraging China to exercise its power in ways that increase regional trust and confidence,” Pyne told the International Institute for Strategic Studies Fullerton Forum, where Chinese military officials were in the audience.
“The building and militarisation of artificial features in the South China Sea, for instance, has not increased regional confidence in China’s strategic intentions – instead, it has increased anxiety,” Pyne said, urging Beijing to resolve disputes in the South China Sea “in accordance with international law”.
