I read in our morning paper that French and Australian navies are planning on joint sea patrols/exercises in the South China Sea. Your views?
I have no view right now: I haven't heard of that piece of news.
I'm googling now. There you go:
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nat...9c35b4726cc719
"The Australian Navy is set to conduct naval exercises alongside France and other countries in the South China Sea, Defence Minister Christopher Pyne has said.
Mr Pyne made the suggestion alongside French Defence Minister Florence Parly who is visiting Australia to discuss difficulties with the Future Submarine Project contract.
Mr Pyne said Australia had increased the “pace of navigations” through the South China Sea and said the two countries were likely to work together on a future multilateral operation.
“In terms of the South China Sea, both Australia and France share a common view, which is that the South China Sea is international waters and that we are entitled to navigate as we see fit, and through the norm practice of any country, navigating through the South China Sea,” Mr Pyne said.
“We are looking forward to doing so with France in coming years, in terms of a group working together in one particular formation that is multi-flagged,” he said.
Ms Parly was asked whether France and Australia would join the US and other nations on a multi-flag operation through the contested waters.
“That’s a very good question and it’s also one of the common concerns we have together,” she responded.
“One of our topics for discussion – how we could together, better co-ordinate, what we’re doing in the South China Sea because we are very conscious that China is more and more receptive.”
“We want to [ensure] that China sticks to the international rules, but we remain very open to dialogue.”
In June, France revealed it was stepping up its military presence in the Asia Pacific, conducting air exercises and sending warships through the South China Sea.
In May, Paris sent their Dixmude ship and a frigate through the disputed Spratly Islands and other island Beijing claims in the sea.
While Australia sails and flies through the South China Sea, it does not take the same approach as the US Navy of sailing close to China’s artificial islands to enforce the international court ruling against the legitimacy of Beijing’s nine dash line over the waters.
Mr Pyne did not suggest there would be any change to this policy."
Well, there's the USA's powerful shadow showing through that article. It's not just about two small countries "showing muscles" to big China.
This world is unstable.