Australia did not make any commitment to the United States in the event of a Taiwan conflict in exchange for access to its Virginia-class nuclear submarines, Defence Minister Richard Marles said.
“Absolutely not. And I couldn’t be more unequivocal than that,” Marles told ABC Insiders.
Leaders of Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States unveiled on March 13 that Australia will purchase at least three Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarines over the next decade under the AUKUS agreement.
Marles said that while the submarines had the capability to operate in war, the primary intent was protecting regional stability.
“I’m not going to speculate about the future of Taiwan … what Australia would do or not do in respect of any future conflict will be a matter to be considered at that time by the government of the day,” he said….