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Australia has strongly refused to pre-commit troops to any future war with Taiwan, claiming its sovereign right to determine military engagement on a case-by-case basis. The assertion comes in the face of increasing pressure from the United States to provide clarity on the roles its allies would take in the event of China ordering military action against Taiwan.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who is in China, repeated Canberra’s long-standing stance on Taiwan. “We don’t support unilateral action. We have a very clear and consistent position we don’t want any change in the status quo,” Albanese told reporters on Sunday, noting Australia’s investment in defence and foreign aid is to promote regional peace and stability.
Australian Acting Defence Minister Pat Conroy voiced similar sentiments, telling a national broadcast: “The government of the day, not pre-emptively, will decide whether to deploy Australian forces into a war. We don’t speak about what if’s.” He further explained that it is of utmost concern for the government of Australia to keep sovereignty of military choices.
These comments come after recent statements by US Undersecretary of Defence for Policy Elbridge Colby, who has called on Japan and Australia to clarify their military roles in the case of a conflict over Taiwan. Colby’s call is part of the Trump administration’s efforts to reassert deterrence in the Indo-Pacific.
Last month, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth warned of China’s “credible plans” for a military invasion of Taiwan as early as 2027. Speaking based on US intelligence, he stated that Chinese President Xi Jinping had ordered his armed forces to prepare for the operation, though no decision has been made.
While Australia is still a prominent defence ally of the US, it is also prudent. Conroy was worried about China’s increasing military presence, especially attempts to set up bases in the Pacific Islands. “We want a balanced Indo-Pacific where no country has domination,” he said.
Australia’s stance comes as part of one of its biggest military training exercises, Talisman Sabre, which was initiated this week in Sydney. The biennial exercise with the United States sees more than 30,000 troops from 19 countries spread across 6,500 km from Christmas Island in the west to the Coral Sea in the east. The Australian defence industry minister admitted that China’s navy may be able to observe the drills, as it has done before.
While Washington pushes for stronger defence commitments, Australian officials insist peace and sovereignty remain at the heart of their national strategy.
