The Australian’s government’s surprise September 16 announcement that Australia was in a new security alliance with the United States, Britain and Australia — AUKUS — formalises its war drive against China.
The intensification of Australia’s long alliance with these two big imperialist powers cements its role as part of a US push to block China’s economic development, by force if necessary. At a still unknown cost, Australia is to be given US and British technology to build nuclear-powered submarines in Adelaide. The two nuclear armed and powered countries will exploit a loophole in the international non-proliferation treaty: International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards allow for nuclear material to be used for “non-proscribed military activity”. Australia is now setting a precedent for other non-nuclear weapons’ states to do the same.
Featuring: Maureen Penjueli, Coordinator, Pacific Network on Globalisation (PANG) Dr Vanessa Griffin, anti-nuclear activist in the Pacific & rep to ICAN (International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons), Joe Carolan, Socialist Aotearoa & Unite Union Senior organiser and Felix Dance, Socialist Alliance. Hosted by Green Left.