AUKUS

It is likely that Manasseh Sogavare’s successor will maintain a pro-Beijing stance.

The former Japanese Ambassador to Australia says the government has remained largely silent about the four-way defence tie-up.

The government also plans to spend billions on ‘autonomous and uncrewed maritime vehicles’ as part of AUKUS Pillar II.

Defence Minister Richard Marles says recruiting New Zealand migrants on the cards to bolster dwindling personnel numbers.

New Zealand is also believed to be considering its AUKUS membership options.

This comes after Foreign Minister Penny Wong called for a Palestinian state alongside the State of Israel.

Right across the Indo-Pacific region, Beijing is trying to ‘gain territorial space, unilaterally through force,’ according to Admiral John Aquilino.

Vice-Admiral David Johnston will take on the top job subject to approval from the governor general.

‘We are considering cooperation with Japan on AUKUS Pillar II advanced capability projects.’

America’s ambassador in Tokyo, Rahm Emanuel, appears to have confirmed that Japan is to join the second tranche of the AUKUS partnership.

Restructuring all 3 ADF branches is inevitable and Mr. Marles added that he was hamstrung by a Defence budget that contained an $42 billion shortfall.

The Secretary of the US Navy, Carlos Del Toro, concluded that production was running 24 to 36 months behind schedule.

The three partner nations ’remain fully committed to this shared endeavour.’

Former British PM David Cameron, now Foreign Secretary, says “lights are flashing red” and we live in a much more dangerous world.

Former Australian PM Paul Keating says Beijing’s Foreign Minister “displayed a keen understanding of Australia’s strengths” following a private meeting.

Paul Keating has been scathing of the AUKUS trilateral pact between Australia, the US, and UK.

Defence Amendment (Safeguarding Australia’s Military Secrets) Bill tightens the rules on former defence staffers working for foreign governments.

The visit is shrouded with questions around the treatment of Australian writer Yang Hengjun, who was sentenced to death in China.

AUKUS aims to increase security in the Indo-Pacific region, and the supply of the submarines is under threat after the US cuts to their defence budget.