Australia Says ‘No’ to Secret Talks With U.S.

The Howard Government declined the offer to join the United States and other allies in secret discussions about the emerging power of China.

Two years ago the Bush administration invited its closest allies the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, Japan and Australia to attend regular meetings to discuss issues such as China’s increased militarization and how to protect diplomatic pouches.

According to ABC sources the Howard government was concerned that such talks would offend the Chinese regime and decided that they could continue through existing bilateral discussions.

The director of the Center for Australian and New Zealand studies at Georgetown University, Dr Alan Tidwell, found the Howard Government’s decision misguided.

“I am a bit surprised about the Howard Government’s decision not to participate in the talks,” he told the ABC.

“These seem to be talks that are occurring at a mid-level, so it doesn’t make much sense from one perspective as to why the Government would decide not to participate.

“Well, certainly the Australian Government could gain a great deal in those bilateral talks but they could gain even more by having multilateral talks with the UK, Canada, Japan, bouncing ideas around amongst those countries and their representatives would gain great insight for the Australian Government,” Dr Tidwell said.