Bishop: Australia pays way on defence
Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop does not believe that United States presidential candidate Donald Trump has Australia and Anzus in mind when he criticises partners for not contributing enough to security alliances.
“I don’t believe that those comments are directed towards Australia because Australia is already on a path to ensuring that our defence budget is 2 per cent of GDP,” she told the Herald during a visit to New Zealand.
“In US terms, that is a significant contribution by a country like Australia to our own defence needs.”
She said Canberra and Washington had a very strong relationship that would endure.
Australia would work with whomever the American people in their wisdom elected as President.
Bishop was in New Zealand on Friday and Saturday for wide-ranging talks that included discussion about the planned visit of an American destroyer to New Zealand next month, the first US naval visit since New Zealand was suspended from the Anzus alliance in 1986 for its antinuclear policy.
Asked if she could see a time when New Zealand rejoined Anzus, she said: “That’s a matter for New Zealand but I note that the US-New Zealand relationship is positive at present.”
The issue had never been raised with her, she said.
The New Zealand Government has said it has no plans to rejoin the alliance.
Defence spending by European and Asian allies has been a recurring theme with Trump, particularly that of Nato members of which only four contribute the expected minimum 2 per cent on defence.
The US spends 3 per cent of GDP annually, or US$650 billion.
Bishop staunchly defended the role the US had played in the Asia Pacific region when asked about the “separation” from the US — military and economic — announced by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in China last week and what it meant for the disputes over the South China Sea.
“Australia sees the United States as the indispensable guarantor of peace and stability and security in our region including in the Asia Pacific,” she said.
“Many countries have benefited from US engagement and leadership in the Asia Pacific.”
The leaders she spoke to wanted to see more US engagement, not less.
“We have benefited enormously from at least 70 years of US leadership and the United States’ support for the international rules-based order has been of great benefit to Australia and, I would suggest, New Zealand,” Bishop said.
Asked if Australia would join any possible conflict, she said Australia wanted a de-escalation of tensions and for claimant parties to peacefully negotiate.
Duterte, who has been President since June, has since backed away from his comments in China but the erratic leader has thrown the Philippines’ defence alliance with the US into doubt.
He also said last week that the Philippines would stop patrolling in the South China Sea — despite having won a case earlier this year against China over maritime rights.