Canada and Australia have expressed deep concern over China’s territorial claims in the contentious waters of the South China Sea. In response, both countries declared their intention to bolster military and defence industry collaboration on Thursday. The Canadian Defence Minister Bill Blair stated that security in the Indo-Pacific region is facing significant challenges and accused Beijing of attempting to reshape the international system to serve its own interests. Following talks in Vancouver with Australian counterpart Richard Marles, Blair emphasized the need for the two nations to work more closely together to maintain order in the Indo-Pacific.
“We have agreed to pursue closer collaboration by enhancing the interoperability of our armed forces and by deepening our operational cooperation,” he told to media.
The two said they were concerned about what they called Beijing’s excessive maritime claims in the South China Sea as well as Chinese military activity around Taiwan.
The Philippines’ armed forces and their counterparts from Canada, United States, and Australia this week held joint maritime exercises in the South China Sea.
“Our cooperation is based on seeking to deter. We are absolutely about working with each other so that we can avoid conflict,” said Marles, referring to his talks with Blair.
Reuters reported that Marles flew to Vancouver from Washington after Wednesday’s talks, during which Australia agreed to begin co-manufacturing guided weapons with the United States next year.
Team BharatShakti (With inputs from Reuters)
