Lambie warns Australia must decide whether to defend Taiwan within 12 months
Senator Lambie says Australia must decide soon. Will we help Taiwan if China attacks? Xi Jinping vowed to reunify Taiwan.
Reported by PerthNowAlso reported by The Nightly.
ShareWhy it matters
This forces Australia to choose. Will we support Taiwan or stay neutral? Either choice has big effects on defence and trade.
In Australia. Australia relies on Taiwan Strait shipping for iron ore, coal and gas exports, and a conflict would cripple global supplies and the Australian economy.
Key facts
- 12 months
- Decision timeframe
- Taiwan reunification must be realised
- Xi's declaration
- Western Pacific around Taiwan
- Drills location
- Iron ore, coal, gas
- Australian exports at risk
- Xi Jinping said this week that reunifying Taiwan cannot be stopped.
- Senator Lambie told the ABC something important.
- Australia must decide within 12 months: will we help Taiwan if China attacks?
- China held secret military drills this month around Taiwan.
- Warships and planes covered a huge area.
- A Taiwan conflict would hurt global trade.
- It would stop chip production.
- The world's top seven economies condemned the drills.
- They said the drills hurt stability.
