March 22 () –
Several senior officials from the Chinese and Australian Defense Ministries met on Wednesday in what was the first official defense-related meeting between the parties since 2019.
A spokesman for the Australian Ministry of Defense has indicated that the parties have held talks on security despite the increase in tension between the parties in recent years.
Thus, he has described the dialogue as “professional” and has stressed that they have managed to “exchange opinions on regional security”, according to the television channel ABC News. The meeting took place in Canberra, the capital of Australia, as far as the Chinese government has moved.
For their part, the authorities of the Asian giant have indicated that the negotiations have facilitated “the strengthening of mutual understanding and contributes to the healthy and stable development of relations between the Armed Forces of both countries.”
In this sense, he has highlighted an “improvement in bilateral relations” although he has admitted that in defense matters “problems persist that could cause a clash of interests” between the parties.
The tension between the parties seemed to rise again last week after the Chinese government denounced the plan signed by the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia and known as AUKUS to promote the manufacture of nuclear-powered submarines. Thus, Beijing insisted that this pact “constitutes a serious risk” in terms of proliferation, incites the arms “race” and harms “peace and stability in the region.”
For the Asian country, it is “ironic” that two nuclear powers such as the United Kingdom and the United States, which boast of meeting “the highest standards” in non-proliferation, share “tons” of enriched uranium with a country, Australia, They don’t have this type of technology.
