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Australian missile plan sparks regional arms race fears

Comment by Larry Ross, August 28, 2004

The Australian decision to arm warplanes with US long-range stealth missiles, highlights a trend since the 9/11 attack and before, for Australia to adopt policies which echo or compliment US policy.
There has been sufficient time since 9/11 for the most backward of countries, to assess the widespread international concerns about the dangers of US policies, particularly the US nuclear policies, and the well-documented thrust of US policy toward global dominion at any cost. The UK and Australia are not backward - they have sophisticated analysts more than capable of determining real US policy and it's dangers.
Yet incredible as it may seem, the UK and Australia have not modified their policies to take into account real US objectives and the major dangers that alliance links with the US entails.
On the contrary, the UK and Australia have decided to support and share the US imperial ambitions and subject their populations to these dangers, and their costs, including the violations of international law and treaties.
Indeed the very survival of the human race is at stake as Bush continues his gamble for Global Domination, as previous Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Sonny Ramphal emphasised several times in his recent speech in Wellington.
The UK and Australia are prepared to accept any risks, invest billions of dollars, and as yet, unknown casualties and costs, to help the US achieve it's goal. The following article is important in documenting Australia's commitment to this goal, while using Australia's national defence security as its obviously false, and counterproductive, justification.
Many New Zealanders do not realise how fortunate they are to have a government that has not totally capitulated to US policy. Within it's limitations NZ does not always echo US policy. It tries to steer an independent, peace and UN-oriented path in international relations. Whether it can continue this policy, depends on whether the public is aware of it, and supports it.

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Australian missile plan sparks regional arms race fears

By COLIN ESPINER WELLINGTON, 27 AUGUST 2004

Plans by the Australian Government to equip its fighter jets with long-range stealth cruise missiles have sparked fears of an arms race in the Asia-Pacific region.
The Government yesterday announced it would spend $A450 million ($NZ485m) on long-range stealth cruise missiles, creating what it calls the most lethal force of fighter jets in South-east Asia.

The decision follows a pledge last month to work with the United States on its controversial "Son of Star Wars" missile defence programme and to establish joint training exercises with the US in northern Australia.

The New Zealand Government yesterday refused all comment on Australia's new cruise missile programme, claiming it never commented on the defence equipment acquisitions of its allies.

But Green Party defence spokesman Keith Locke said the move was likely to prompt China to increase its nuclear weapons production to counter the missile programme.

"That's inevitable. If countries feel all the money and effort they've put in to nuclear weapons will be for nothing because they don't have enough to get through a missile shield then they'll build more," Locke said. "This makes it more important for us to distinguish ourselves in foreign affairs and defence policy from Australia so we don't get tarred with that brush."

He was backed by Australian National University defence analyst Dr Michael McKinley, who said the acquisition was certain to raise tensions in Asia and it was possible an arms race would be the result.

McKinley said the move was also another incremental step in the separation of New Zealand and Australia's strategic interests.

"It's clear Australia envisages a future operating as part of US expeditionary forces and that is something New Zealand is not doing.

"New Zealand has decided that it will do the dishes rather than go to the dinner. It actually makes New Zealand much more acceptable as the `European' country inside Asia-Pacific."

Australia plans to fit its F/A-18 Hornet fighters and AP-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft with air-to-surface missiles capable of hitting targets up to 400km away.

Announcing the move, the Australian Defence Minister, Robert Hill, said Australia's fighter jets would have "the region's most lethal capacity for air combat and strike operations".

The Australian Labor Party, which supports the missile programme, warned that Australia risked getting offside with its neighbours, already worried by its increasingly close alliance with the United States.

But Hill said there was "no likelihood at all" of the purchase sparking a regional arms race.

Approached for comment last night, Prime Minister Helen Clark's office said New Zealand was not a close neighbour of Australia and in any case never commented on its defence relationships.