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Pacific’s future

Australia’s new prime minister, Anthony Albanese, immediately stepped into the ‘‘Quad’’ group of Australia, United States, India and Japan, at a summit meeting in Tokyo, determined to oppose Beijing’s drive for dominance in the Indo-Pacific.

In The Timaru Herald (May 25), there is reference to Japan and the US agreeing to ‘‘step up their security co-operation’’ and ‘‘deterrence capability’’, in response to China’s coercive behaviour and also to a growing nuclear threat from North Korea.

When President Joe Biden was asked if the US would be willing to ‘‘get involved militarily to defend Taiwan if China were to attack it?’’, the answer was, ‘‘yes, it’s a commitment we made’’. This was the third time in recent months he has given such a unequivocal commitment to defend Taiwan if necessary.

We can only hope the combined might of the Quad nations will be successful in preventing the hope of the Chinese to set up military bases in the South Pacific. They have already signed agreements with Solomon Islands officials and are soon to approach Fiji and other nations to allow them to fulfil their aggressive advances, which will have major repercussions to all South Pacific nations including New Zealand and Australia.

D H Darling Timaru

Opinion

en-nz

2022-05-28T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-05-28T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://fairfaxmedia.pressreader.com/article/281663963632622

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