May 3rd 2024.
According to former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr, he has decided to take legal action against New Zealand's Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters amidst the ongoing discussion about the AUKUS defence pact. Peters, who also holds the position of New Zealand's Foreign Minister, made some accusations about Carr's relationship with China during a radio interview yesterday. However, these claims were not republished by local media or wire services.
Carr's spokesperson stated that the remarks made by Peters were considered defamatory, which is why they have chosen to take legal action. As a former premier of New South Wales and foreign minister in 2012, Carr has been openly critical of the AUKUS pact, a defence agreement between Australia, the United States, and Britain. This agreement involves Australia acquiring nuclear-powered submarines as a strategic move in response to China's growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region.
On the other hand, New Zealand has been exploring the possibility of joining AUKUS through "pillar two," which focuses on sharing advanced capabilities and technologies in various areas, excluding nuclear submarines. Last month, Carr participated in a summit held in Wellington by the New Zealand Labour Party, where former prime minister Helen Clark was among the speakers.
During the summit, Carr expressed his support for Australia's pushback against China's increasing assertiveness. However, he did raise concerns about the estimated cost of $368 billion for the acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines, calling it the largest transfer of wealth in Australia's history. The summit also brought up concerns that joining AUKUS may hinder New Zealand's foreign policy and prevent them from disagreeing with the US. Additionally, it may also take the focus away from the pressing issue of climate change, which Pacific leaders consider to be the most significant security concern in the region.
Despite these concerns, it is clear that Carr and others are in support of standing up against China's actions. However, they want to ensure that the best interests of their countries are taken into consideration, rather than solely focusing on military advancements. With the ongoing debate about the AUKUS pact, it remains to be seen what actions will be taken by both Australia and New Zealand in response to China's growing influence.
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