Anticipating China's Influence In The Pacific, The US Helps Australia Build Multi-Launch Control Rocket System

Illustration. Missiles from Ukraine's double launch rocket (HIMARS) system were fired at the Russian military. (Wikimedia Commons-General Staff of Ukraine Armed Forces)

JAKARTA - The United States (US) has stated that it is ready to assist Australia in producing a multi-launch control rocket system by 2025. This effort is to increase cooperation in the face of the development of China's influence in Pacific island countries.

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said the cooperation was one of "some mutually beneficial initiatives" pursued by the Pentagon with the Australian defense industry.

"The US is also rushing to accelerate Australia's access to priority ammunition through a simplified acquisition process," Austin told a news conference in Brisbane, Australia, in Antara.

Previously, the annual dialogue titled Australian-US Ministerial Level Consultation was held. Present at the event apart from Austin, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong.

The US-Australia has stepped up collaborative defense efforts that include Canberra's plans to acquire nuclear-powered submarines under a three-way security partnership involving Britain, AUKUS.

Austin stressed the importance of transferring US nuclear-powered attack submarines to Australia - a move that sparked Republican lawmakers' concerns about submarine production in Australia.

"Regarding AUKUS, I am sure there will continue to be strong bipartisan support for this initiative," said Austin, who is the Pentagon Chief alongside Blinken and Marles.

"This initiative... creates the ability of [transfer] generations, and once again, it helps us realize a shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific," he added.

Blinken underlined the US-Australia's efforts to maintain order based on international rules, one of which is through this collaboration, 'if necessary' against China's steps if it interferes with navigational and aviation freedoms in the South and East China seas.

Blinken pun menegaskan AS-Australia melawan upaya China untuk meningkatkan status quo atas stabilitas di Selat Taiwan.

As is known, China's diplomatic push to embrace countries in the Pacific Islands has worried the US and its allies such as Australia and Japan.

This is mainly related to the signing of a security agreement between Beijing and the Solomon Islands in April 2023. The security agreement reportedly allowed Beijing to deploy its military and juxtapose its ship on an island nation in northeastern Australia.

In this last meeting between the US-Australia, Marles underlined Austin's statement on the "US bipartisan commitment" to the acquisition of submarines by Australia.

He also expects "more visits" of US nuclear-powered submarines to Australia. He said it could be "the first step in Australia's journey to develop the ability to operate its own nuclear-powered submarines."