Assault on Indian forces by China along LAC a warning that world should heed: Australian DM
Marles said his visit reflects the conviction and the commitment by the Albanese Government to place India at the heart of Australia"s approach to the Indo-Pacific and beyond.
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New Delhi, June 23: Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles, said the "assault on Indian forces" along Line of Actual Control(LAC) with China in 2020, was a warning that the world should heed. He noted that Beijing's military build-up is the most ambitious by any country since end of Second World War.
"China's military build-up is now the largest and most ambitious we have seen by any country since the end of the Second World War. It is critical that China's neighbours do not see this build-up as a risk for them. Because without that reassurance, it is inevitable that countries will seek to upgrade their own military capabilities in response," he said.
Marles arrived in India on Monday on a four-day visit. The Australian Defence Minister held a bilateral meeting with his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh on Wednesday as both sides reviewed the regional security situation and reaffirmed their shared objective of an open, free and rules-based Indo-Pacific region.
Marles said his visit reflects the conviction and the commitment by the Albanese Government to place India at the heart of Australia's approach to the Indo-Pacific and beyond. He said geography of Australia and India makes the two countries stewards of the Indian Ocean region.
"It's an ocean which accounts for about half the world's container traffic and is a crucial conduit for global trade. India's location makes it the natural leader of this region which Australia strongly supports."
"China's military build-up is now the largest and most ambitious we have seen by any country since the end of the Second World War. It is critical that China's neighbours do not see this build-up as a risk for them. Because without that reassurance, it is inevitable that countries will seek to upgrade their own military capabilities in response," he said.
He further added, "The assault on Indian forces along the Line of Actual Control in 2020 was a warning we should all heed. Australia stood up for India's sovereignty then and continues to do so now. It is vital that China commits to resolving this dispute through a process of dialogue consistent with international law. The global rules-based order matters everywhere, including in the highest place on earth."
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Marles said as India and Australia continue to lift their defence & security cooperation, exploring longer-term reciprocal access arrangements is the next step. "It will not be lost on any of us that deeper Australian-Indian security cooperation is often seen as a response to a rising China. There is nothing remarkable about two democracies working together in response to strategic change. But it would be wrong to assume, as some commentators tend to, that China is at the centre of every decision," he said.
Australia said it is vital that China commits to resolving eastern Ladakh border row with India through a process of dialogue consistent with international law; asserted that growing security ties between New Delhi and Canberra should not be seen as directed against Beijing.
Marles arrived in India on Monday on a four-day visit. The Australian Defence Minister held a bilateral meeting with his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh on Wednesday as both sides reviewed the regional security situation and reaffirmed their shared objective of an open, free and rules-based Indo-Pacific region.