Pentagon chief takes aim at China as US and Australia reaffirm defence ties
- Mark Esper says America won’t stand by as one nation tries to reshape the region through ‘destabilising’ military and economic expansion
The chief of the Pentagon labelled Beijing’s military and economic expansion “destabilising behaviour” on Sunday, after talks to cement military ties with traditional US ally, Australia.
“We firmly believe no one nation can or should dominate the Indo-Pacific, and we are working alongside our allies and partners to address the region’s pressing security needs,” US Defence Secretary Mark Esper said in Sydney.
“[The US will] not stand by idly while any one nation attempts to reshape the region to its favour at the expense of others, and we know our allies and partners will not either.”
Esper made the comments after he and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo held annual strategy talks with their Australian counterparts, Foreign Minister Marise Payne and Defence Minister Linda Reynolds.
“It’s important to reinforce that without strong US engagement, the region that we all want, the region we need, can’t be achieved … That’s a region in which all states are respected, regardless of size or power,” Payne said, in response to Esper’s comments.
During the talks, Washington and Canberra pledged to strengthen opposition to Chinese activities in the Pacific.