US missiles not welcome Down Under

SYDNEY: Australia ruled out hosting ground-based US missiles after talks with Washington’s top defence and diplomatic officials yetserday.

Following an announcement that the United States plans to deploy intermediate-range missiles in Asia — widely seen as an effort to contain China — Australia scotched the notion of locating them Down Under.

“It’s not been asked of us, not being considered, not been put to us. I think I can rule a line under that,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison said of the notion.

His comments came hours after US Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo departed Sydney following talks.

Australian Defence minister Linda Reynolds told public broadcaster ABC the issue came up in her meeting with Mr Esper: “I asked him directly, ‘was there any expectation of a request,’ and he said ‘no.’”

Any formal request would put Australia in a difficult spot between longtime ally the United States and major trade partner China.

Policy toward Beijing has become an increasing point of friction between Washington and Canberra — which has tried to maintain good working relations with Chinese President Xi Jinping’s government.

While Australia has a mutual defence treaty with the United States, China’s purchases of Australian coal and iron ore kept the latter’s economy purring through the global financial crisis.

Mr Pompeo’s visit featured a sharp warning for partners to “have their eyes wide open” about China’s increasingly assertive behaviour.

He also cautioned Australian policymakers about the risk of turning a blind eye to abuses in order to trade with Beijing.