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

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Australia to 'support status quo' on Taiwan, amid US defense push #breakingnews #australia #taiwan #china Australia will not make any pre-commitments to join a potential 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. Responding to a Financial Times report that the Pentagon has been urging Japan and Australia to outline their positions, Conroy said: “The decision to commit Australian troops to a conflict will be made by the government of the day, not in advance.” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese echoed the stance while speaking in Shanghai during a six-day visit to China. He reaffirmed Australia's long-held bipartisan support for the “status quo” in Taiwan and said the government opposes any unilateral actions in the region. “We want peace and security in our region. We don’t want any change to the status quo.” The remarks come amid increased tensions across the Taiwan Strait, with China continuing to claim sovereignty over the democratically governed island and refusing to rule out the use of force. Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te insists only the island’s people can decide their future. While the U.S. does not offer an explicit security guarantee to Taiwan, President Donald Trump’s 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 to China also includes efforts to deepen economic ties, with Tourism Australia signing a deal with Trip.com Group to boost Chinese tourism to Australia. Connect With news.com.au Online ► [] ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Follow Us: Facebook ► [ Instagram ► [ TikTok ► [@news.com.au] X ► [ ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Subscribe To Our YouTube Channel For The Very Latest News From Australia And Around The World: ► [ ► [ ► [ ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬