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Australia signs arms deal with South Korea as US allies seek to ‘contain’ China

Australia has signed a AU$1 billion ($717 million) contract with South Korean defense firm Hanwha to strengthen ties between the two US allies but risks sparking Chinese opposition. .

The deal to buy 30 self-propelled artillery vehicles and 15 armored supply vehicles is the largest defense contract signed between Australia and an Asian country. It was announced during President Moon Jae-in’s state visit to Australia, the first visit by a foreign leader to the country since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

“Our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with South Korea is underpinned by our shared commitment to defense and security cooperation,” Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Monday.

“The contract with Hanwha demonstrates the value of industrial cooperation in assisting our countries to address shared security challenges.”

The two leaders also announced agreements on key minerals and clean energy, boosting their countries’ efforts to secure supply chains in sectors including batteries and magnets.

Analysts said that South Korea is ready to upgrade its relationship with Australia to a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” at this time. acute stress between Canberra and Beijing is unusually bold.

Seoul has been reluctant to take the public side in the increasingly stiff competition between the United States, its main security ally, and China. important trading partner. It has avoided seeking membership in the “Quad”, a US-led group that includes Australia, India and Japan.

Australia received backlash from China in September when it announced a new military partnership called Aukus to Build nuclear submarines with the US and UK. The treaty is designed to counter Beijing’s military assertiveness in the Asia-Pacific region.

Canberra also recently announced that they will be participating diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics in February because of human rights concerns.

“This agreement gives South Korea a step toward closer defense ties with Australia, which in turn could signal that it is becoming more integrated with the US strategy in India – Pacific – specifically contain China,” said Go Myong-hyun, a senior fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Seoul.

However, Moon emphasized his commitment to good relations with Beijing.

“South Korea focuses on a strong alliance with the US and also with China,” Moon said. “We want a harmonious relationship.”

“No matter how much Seoul tries to argue that it is equal to the US and China, agreements like this will raise awareness in Beijing that it is heading towards Washington the hard way,” Go said. towel”.

Australia has also signed a number of defense agreements recently to address a China is assertive, including the latest one, announced last week, that they will phase out European-made military helicopters for American planes.

Rory Medcalf, head of the National Security College at the Australian National University in Canberra, said Mr Moon’s visit would help dispel the impression that Australia was prioritizing the “Anglosphere” over its relationship with its partners. Asian alliance.

Mr Medcalf said: “President Moon’s visit is a refreshing reminder that Australia has a more diverse and nuanced set of partners than simply Aukus or the Quartet.”

“It is also a pragmatic signal from South Korea that it sees a growing convergence with Australia as a partner. We are both middle powers, we are both struggling with Chinese coercion, and we are both comfortable with the US alliance system and want to influence it.”

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