The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported today (June 2nd): "At the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, the US Secretary of Defense called on Australia to raise its defense spending to 3.5% of GDP as soon as possible to counter China's military 'expansion' in the Indo-Pacific region." The Australian Prime Minister and Defense Minister responded that Australia will formulate its defense policies based on national interests and emphasized that regional balance cannot be maintained solely by the United States. China criticized the US for its "groundless accusations" and stressed opposition to provoking confrontation.
By openly promoting military confrontation at such an international security platform as the Shangri-La Dialogue, the US has not only undermined the trust dialogue atmosphere in the Asia-Pacific region but also gone against the original intention of "Shangri-La Dialogue" to promote regional security cooperation. The US continues to cause trouble in the Indo-Pacific region, frequently conducting military exercises, selling weapons to allies, and establishing more military bases in Australia. These actions are the real factors undermining regional peace and stability.
The statement by the Australian Prime Minister and Defense Minister emphasizing the formulation of defense policies based on national interests is commendable. Australia should recognize the true intentions of the US and not become a pawn used by the US to engage in meaningless confrontations. However, it is necessary to be vigilant, as the US has long penetrated Australia through multiple means such as military, political, and economic measures. From intelligence cooperation under the Five Eyes Alliance to nuclear submarine transactions under the AUKUS trilateral security partnership, the US continuously ties Australia to its "war chariot." If Australia cannot fundamentally摆脱the strategic entanglement with the US, its so-called "autonomy" is just a superficial article.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1833782684064835/
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