Australia’s prime minister Scott Morrison has rejected Chinese criticism of Australia’s new nuclear submarine alliance with the United States – and said he does not mind that US president Joe Biden might have forgotten his name.
China reacted angrily when Mr Biden, Mr Morrison and Prime Minister Boris Johnson used a virtual news conference this week to announce a trilateral defence alliance that will provide Australia with a fleet of at least eight nuclear-powered submarines.
Chinese ministry of foreign affairs spokesperson Zhao Lijian said it was “highly irresponsible” for the US and Britain to export the nuclear technology.
Today, Australia begins an enhanced trilateral security partnership with the UK and the US to enable deeper cooperation on security and defence capabilities. This is an historic opportunity for our countries to strengthen our nations’ security in uncertain times. #AUKUS
— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) September 15, 2021
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Mr Morrison said Australia wanted to boost peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
“Everything we’ve done with the United States is consistent with the partnerships and relationships and alliances we’ve already had with the United States,” Mr Morrison told Radio 3AW.
Australia’s nearest neighbour after Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, was “deeply concerned over the continuing arms race and power projection in the region,” the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
News of the alliance received a positive response in Singapore.
The island-state’s prime minister Lee Hsien Loong told Mr Morrison in a phone call he hoped the nuclear deal would “contribute constructively to the peace and stability of the region and complement the regional architecture”, Singapore’s foreign ministry said.
French leaders and the European Union are angered at being excluded from the alliance that scuppers a contract with France to build 12 conventional diesel-electric submarines for Australia.
Observers say Mr Biden appeared to have forgotten Mr Morrison’s name during Thursday’s news conference, which was televised from three countries.
The president referred to the Australian as “pal” and “that fellow Down Under”.
Mr Biden did not use Mr Morrison’s name, while he referred to Johnson as “Boris”.
It reminded Australians of when then-President Donald Trump’s spokesman Sean Spicer repeatedly referred to Morrison’s predecessor, Malcolm Turnbull, in 2017 as “Mr Trumble”.
Mr Morrison laughed off what some have described as an awkward exchange with Mr Biden that undermined Australia’s significance to the United States.
We intend to build these submarines in Adelaide in close cooperation with the UK and the US. But let me be clear, Australia is not seeking to acquire nuclear weapons.
It was great to join Australia's good friends @POTUS and @BorisJohnson to announce this new partnership today. pic.twitter.com/n9cqoIliM9— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) September 15, 2021
“Usually when we speak privately, he refers to me as ‘pal,'” Mr Morrison told the Seven Network.
Mr Morrison said he and the president enjoyed a great working relationship.
“Oh, I didn’t pay much attention to it. I mean, these things happen. They happen frequently,” Mr Morrison told Nine Network.
“From time to time, you know, I’ve been known to let the odd name slip from my memory — that’s pretty normal in our line of work, I’ve got to be honest,” he added.
The Australian leader said he referred to Mr Biden as “Mr President” or “mate” in private conversations.
Mr Morrison will visit the United States next week for the first time since Mr Biden became president.
The pair will be joined by the leaders of India and Japan for a meeting of the Quad security dialogue.
