‘Immature,’ ‘Embarrassing’: Australian Defence Minister on Beijing’s Reaction to AUKUS

‘Immature,’ ‘Embarrassing’: Australian Defence Minister on Beijing’s Reaction to AUKUS
Australian Minister of Defence Peter Dutton speaks at a news conference in Washington on Sept. 16, 2021. Andrew Harnik/Pool/AFP via Getty Images
Caden Pearson
Updated:

Australia’s Defence Minister Peter Dutton has deemed comments by both the Chinese regime’s media mouthpiece The Global Times and Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian as “propaganda,” after they claimed the new AUKUS security pact with the United States and the United Kingdom would undermine peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

“Frankly, I think they make the case for us,” Dutton told Sky News on Sept. 17 from the United States. “Their comments are counterproductive and immature, and frankly embarrassing.”

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