China’s ‘coercive behaviour’ scrutinised at US-Australia talks as global tensions cited

‘Shared security challenges’ tackled by two allies as ministerial consultations feature each country’s top defence and diplomatic officials

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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (left) and US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin attend a meeting with Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles (neither pictured) in Annapolis, Maryland, on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters

Published: 1:40am, 7 Aug 2024Updated: 11:50pm, 7 Aug 2024

High-level talks between America’s and Australia’s defence chiefs and top diplomats on Tuesday turned a spotlight on China’s “coercive behaviour” in the latest sign of a deepening security relationship between the allies.

“We’re working together today to tackle shared security challenges, from coercive behaviour by the PRC, to Russia’s war of choice against Ukraine, to the turmoil in the Middle East,” said US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, referring to China by its initials, as the talks opened in Annapolis, Maryland.

After the 34th annual instalment of the ministerial consultations ended, Austin said the two sides agreed to continue strengthening their “force-posture cooperation”. This included, Austin said, upgrading critical airbases in western and northern Australia and adding new locations for cooperation.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken added that they agreed on “the importance of maintaining peace and stability” across the Taiwan Strait and in the South and East China seas as well as “countering any attempts at coercion”.

Why China wants to control much of the South China Sea

In a joint statement, Washington and Canberra expressed concern over China’s “excessive maritime claims” in the South China Sea and committed to maintaining a long-term presence of aircraft and vessels in the Indo-Pacific.