Defence and Security

Created
Wed, 29/03/2023 - 04:55
The AUKUS nuclear submarine deal presents New Zealand with a difficult dilemma. On one hand old allies are forming a military alliance to confront an emergent China, ramping up their AUKUS relationship and their rhetoric magnifying China’s threat. On the other hand is New Zealand’s long standing carefully nurtured relationship with its major trading partner. Continue reading »
Created
Wed, 29/03/2023 - 04:56
The uniformly negative reaction of the national press gallery to former PM Paul Keating’s views on Australia’s security raises questions not just of its intellectual adequacy but of whether the media has been captured by and is knowingly serving the United States at Australia’s expense. How might one distinguish commentary which knowingly favours US objectives Continue reading »
Created
Wed, 29/03/2023 - 04:57
Very simply, we have to shake out cobwebs and think for ourselves. While it sounds simple, it is actually hard when trying to separate from a dominant ally and the “illusory truth effect” which envelopes us daily. In recent years there have been hundreds of contributions here from writers urging that we withdraw from the Continue reading »
Created
Mon, 27/03/2023 - 04:50
The criticisms of the AUKUS arrangements announced by the government are entirely warranted, as is the outrage that has accompanied them, but, strangely, they miss a point which should have preceded them. And that has to do with the political complexion of the United States itself; in brief, it faces the world as a troubled Continue reading »
Created
Mon, 27/03/2023 - 04:52
Recently, Australia’s Defence Minister, Richard Marles said “Our alliance with the United States is completely central to our national security and to our worldview”. This raises three questions: 1. Does our relationship with the US enhance Australia’s sovereignty? 2. Does Australia share US values? 3. Does Australia face a “China threat”? The Australian government gives Continue reading »
Created
Mon, 27/03/2023 - 04:58
Dear Labor MPs, I write to convey my deep disappointment in the Labor Government, of which you are part, specifically in relation to the AuKUS submarine deal but more generally in relation to military strategy and foreign policy. The United States’ China containment strategy is designed to shore up US economic hegemony but being sold Continue reading »