Malaysia Challenges Australia’s AUKUS Smokescreen

Yiswaree Palnasamy in Malay Mail, 12 October 2021,   where the title reads thusHishammuddin: Aukus can potentially disrupt South-east Asian peace; Malaysia won’t stand by”

Malaysia has made it clear to Australia that it won’t stand for any external threat to the peace and stability in South-east Asia, Parliament was told today.Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said the federal government’s position has been very clear and consistent regarding the three-way security pact Australia has with the United States and the United Kingdom in the Indoe-Pacific region, better known as Aukus. “The latest stance of the Malaysian government on Aukus remains consistent with the stance affirmed by the prime minister, that the formation of Aukus raises concerns as it has the potential to disrupt peace and stability in Southeast Asia. 

KUALA LUMPUR, 5 Okt — Menteri Kanan Pertahanan yang juga Ahli Parlimen Sembrong Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein ketika Mesyuarat Khas Penggal Ketiga Parlimen Ke-14 di Parlimen hari ini.?–fotoBERNAMA (2021) HAK CIPTA TERPELIHARA

“It will also provoke other powers to act more aggressively in the region, especially in the South China Sea,” he said in the Dewan Rakyat. The senior minister said Malaysia’s stance remained unchanged even after his phone conversation with his Australian counterpart Peter Dutton and a recent meeting with Australia’s representative, Vice-Admiral David Johnston.

“In both these discussions, I have stressed that Malaysia does not want to be dragged into the geopolitics of the considerations of huge powers.  I also emphasised that, as an Asean nation, Malaysia holds the principle of maintaining Asean as a Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality,” Hishammuddin added.

He said Australia must respect the Asean principle on neutrality and Malaysia’s stance on nuclear-powered submarines operating in its waters, including under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and the Southeast Asian Nuclear-Weapon-FreeZone Treaty. Hishammuddin said that he had also informed Australia that it needs to obtain consent from Malaysia if any of its nuclear-powered warship or submarine wishes to enter Malaysian waters or ports.

He said Johnston had last week explained that Aukus is not a military alliance but a collaboration for nuclear-powered submarine technology. He said the Australian official also said the nuclear-powered submarine does not involve nuclear armaments, in line with Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Treaty 1968.

But he reminded both Dutton and Johnston that all parties should refrain from using any military action that is considered provocative or has the potential to increase tensions and provoke conflict. “I also emphasised that Malaysia’s stand will not budge, that is, any problems, differences and disputes must be addressed, consistently and clearly through dialogue and consultation,” Hishammuddin added.

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3 responses to “Malaysia Challenges Australia’s AUKUS Smokescreen

  1. Fair Dinkum

    Vice-Admiral David Johnson, the Australian representative (who met with Malaysian Defence Minister Hishammuddin) is lying when he tells Malaysia Aukus is not a military alliance. Only a naive fool would accept this claim at face value. The whole point of Aukus is not just about transferring nuclear technology to Australia, but it also about preparing Aukus for a war against China. When this war starts, Australia’s Defence Minister will come knocking on the door of Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia to suck them into this unnecessary war. Hishammuddin is correct to stand firm and recognize Dutton and Johnson’s words have no credibility whatsoever.

    Johnston’s attemps to reassure Hishammuddin that the new Australian nuclear powered submarines will not carry nuclear weapons cannot be taken seriously, or accepted at face value. This is because Johnson cannot guarantee that sometime in the future (after he has gone) Australia’s policy on arming their nuclear submarines with nuclear weapons will not change. In fact, that is a real possibility. If you look at the history of Australia’s military development, such things develop in piecemeal steps, and it is very likely a future Australian Prime Minister could authorise the submarines carry nuclear weapons. Dutton’s words over a telephone or Johnson’s face-to-face meeting are just words. Nothing more.

  2. Hugh Karunanayake

    The fact remains that Australia is a gigantic Euro-dominated anachronism in the Asian region. Its interest is not in the region but in maintaining the status quo of superpowers in the West. The country should identify itself as part of the region with regional interests at the forefront of its foreign policies. As Paul Keating said, Liberal dominated politics in Australia does not seek to be part of the region but on the contrary seeks to protect itself from the region!!
    Australia under Morrison is shaping itself to be a target should West inspired war games turn into a conflict.

  3. Fair Dinkum

    The difference between Malaysia and Australia is that while Malaysia believes in continuing dialogue to resolve disputes and maintain peace and prosperity in Asia; Australia believes war is a better way, with nuclear submarines, Anglo-led military alliances, and propaganda to advance the interests of Western superpowers.

    Having sabotaged its own relationship with China, Australia is trying to sabotage China’s relations with all other Asian countries by constant intense meddling, to divide Asia as a pathway to advancing Anglo-Western interests and values in a world that is not theirs. The notion that Anglo and Asian values are the same is a joke. That’s why Australian academics have tried to push the idea that Asian values don’t exist, even though every Asian knows they do exist across Asia, including China.

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