Former Australian Ambassador Geoff Raby says the AUKUS partnership sends a “very clear signal to the leadership in China that Australia now sees China as an enemy”.
On Thursday Australia’s trilateral security partnership with the United States and the United Kingdom was announced, which will see the country receive nuclear-powered submarines.
Mr Raby said however an alternative is Australia needs to rely more on “diplomacy” rather than “security and military”.
“We have strong regional relationships but something like this will make it more difficult for us to work with countries in south-east Asia,” Mr Raby told Sky News Australia.
“I mean for us to have nuclear-powered submarines for example will be seen as threatening by Indonesia, our closest regional neighbour and the country that we should be working closest with.
“This shows not sophisticated strategic thinking at all, I see it more as a PR stunt that one with tremendous consequences for Australia.”
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