Australian Defense Minister Warns Conflict Over Taiwan Cannot ‘Be Discounted’
BY DANIEL Y. TENG
26 APRIL 2021
Australian Defense Minister Peter Dutton is warning that conflict over Taiwan is a possibility and has vowed to work with allies to maintain peace in the region.
“People need to be realistic about the activity,” Dutton told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation on Sunday. “There is militarization of bases across the region. Obviously, there is a significant amount of activity, and there is an animosity between Taiwan and China.”
“If you look at any of the rhetoric that is coming out of China from spokesmen, particularly in recent weeks and months in response to different suggestions that have been made, they have been very clear about that goal,” he added.
“I don’t think it should be discounted. I think China has been very clear about the reunification, and that’s been a long-held objective of theirs,” Dutton said.