SYDNEY: A senior US soldier said on Thursday Australia must choose between a stronger US alliance or closer ties with China, and urged Canberra to take a tougher stance against Chinese claims in the South China Sea.
"I think the Australians need to make a choice ... it's very difficult to walk this fine line between balancing the alliance with the United States and the economic engagement with China," US Army Assistant Chief of Staff Colonel Tom Hanson said on Australian Broadcasting Corporation Radio.
"There's going to have to be a decision as to which one is more of a vital national interest for Australia," he said. Hanson said the comments reflected his personal view and were not necessarily that of the US government.
The comments follow the publication of a parliamentary booklet warning Australian lawmakers to treat Chinese motives in the region with caution.
Australia, a staunch US ally, has previously drawn criticism from China for running surveillance flights over disputed islands in the South China Sea, and supporting US freedom of navigation exercises there.
However, Australia has not conducted a unilateral freedom of navigation voyage of its own.
"Clearly China believes that they have an opportunity and they feel empowered to flout that, and a demonstration by Australia would be welcome," Hanson said.
Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said in response to Hanson's comments that the US role in the Indo-Pacific region was as important now as it had ever been.
"We are balancing relationships between our largest strategic ally and our largest trading partner with deft diplomacy, consistency and pragmatism," Bishop said in a statement.
China is Australia's biggest trading partner and a large source of foreign investment, spending $11.1 billion on Australian assets, mostly property, in 2015, accounting and advisory firm KPMG and the University of Sydney have said.
"I think the Australians need to make a choice ... it's very difficult to walk this fine line between balancing the alliance with the United States and the economic engagement with China," US Army Assistant Chief of Staff Colonel Tom Hanson said on Australian Broadcasting Corporation Radio.
"There's going to have to be a decision as to which one is more of a vital national interest for Australia," he said. Hanson said the comments reflected his personal view and were not necessarily that of the US government.
Australia, a staunch US ally, has previously drawn criticism from China for running surveillance flights over disputed islands in the South China Sea, and supporting US freedom of navigation exercises there.
Advertisement
"Clearly China believes that they have an opportunity and they feel empowered to flout that, and a demonstration by Australia would be welcome," Hanson said.
Advertisement
"We are balancing relationships between our largest strategic ally and our largest trading partner with deft diplomacy, consistency and pragmatism," Bishop said in a statement.
Advertisement
© Thomson Reuters 2016
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Neeraj Chopra vs Arshad Nadeem Javelin Series? Ex-Pakistan Star Says It'll Be Bigger Than... Huawei’s Upcoming Tri-Fold Smartphone Tipped to Carry a Hefty Price Tag at Launch Former Australia Captain Demands Demolition Of India's Historic Win Venue, Reason Is This Nurse Raped, Killed On Way Home, Body Found 9 Days Later In UP "Took Advantage Of His Addiction": 5 Charged Over Matthew Perry's Death Rahul Gandhi's Seat At Red Fort Triggers Fresh Congress Attack On BJP Ukraine, Russia Both Claim Advances In Kursk Region Gaza Ceasefire Talks Underway In Qatar As Deaths Top 40,000 Trump To Hold Press Conference, His Campaign Adds Senior Advisers Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.