The Man History Left Behind

Please STFU, Paul Keating

It saddens me greatly that Paul Keating comes out of his hide-hole to go on the ABC to blast Australia's defence policy. He's reduced himself to being a China Shill. 

Paul Keating would have it that Australia would be better off if it didn't join AUKUS and had its own independent defence stance in the South Pacific. When the matter of Taiwan is brought up, He's happy to sell the Taiwanese down the river and claims that Taiwan belongs to China and whatever difference they have about politics, it would get resolved by itself. He then brings up the spectre of "Australian kids shot to death on the beach in Taiwan" as a reason not to be part of AUKUS. It's really quite selfish and myopic. I'm amazed he wants to take this position. 

Australia's independence is no small stakes, and while it's true Australia would not like to be dragged into a war in Asia fighting China, China is clearly the aggressor wanting to take Taiwan by force. Their ambassador even told us that we should just accept they would use force to take Taiwan if it came to push or shove. Australia didn't join AUKUS because it wants to bully China. It joined AUKUS to present a deterrence. It's very disheartening to see Paul Keating of all people not stand by democracy on principle. Instead he's fear-mongering that our soldiers would die on the beaches of Taiwan and that is why Australia should not join alliances. I mean, really.    

As part of a highly globalised world economy, Australia does not have an isolationist advantage any more.  It also has a responsibility to be part of a global network to preserve the peace and protect the interest of as many people as possible. By dint of being a democracy, Taiwan is on this side, and Mainland China is not. 

Paul Keating's lamentable argument is that Australia can afford to be isolationist and should be isolationist, and make no sacrifices towards the global order. I guess if you don't want any friends, you would be willing to sell your neighbours down the river. I never thought I'd say this but his sense of Australia sovereignty is actually deeply selfish and ugly. We're better than that, we believe the democracies of our allies are worth fighting for and protecting, and that's why we're in AUKUS and the Quad. 

Paul Keating needs to read his briefings properly.