Australia to 'support status quo' on Taiwan, amid US defense push

Australia will not pre‑commit to join a conflict over Taiwan, Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said Sunday, pushing back on reported pressure from the United States to clarify its role in the event of a war with China. Conroy added that the decision to commit Australian troops would be made by the government of the day, not in advance. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese echoed this stance while speaking in Shanghai during a six‑day visit to China, reaffirming Australia’s long‑held bipartisan support for the status quo in Taiwan and opposing any unilateral actions in the region. "We want peace and security in our region. We don’t want any change to the status quo," he said. The remarks come amid heightened tensions across the Taiwan Strait, with China continuing to claim sovereignty over the island and refusing to rule out the use of force, while Taiwan’s President Lai Ching‑te insists that only the island’s people can decide their future. Although the United States does not offer an explicit security guarantee to Taiwan, the Trump administration has encouraged allies to raise defence spending and prepare to deter Chinese aggression as part of its broader America First agenda. Albanese’s visit also included efforts to deepen economic ties, such as a deal between Tourism Australia and Trip.com Group to boost Chinese tourism to Australia.