This Critical American Ally Is Struggling with China's South China Sea Moves

Tom Switzer

Security, Asia

An Important Debate: Australia is debating what to do (if anything) in the South China Sea. 

This week the Pentagon ordered the USS William P. Lawrence, a guided-missile destroyer, to sail within 12 nautical miles of the land feature China has constructed on Fiery Cross Reef in the South China Sea. It’s the third time since October the US Navy has penetrated the zone, and it reaffirms Washington’s insistence that Beijing has no territorial claims to the artificial islands there.

It’s one thing for a global hegemon to keep in check a rising China. But should Australia accede to US requests to participate in freedom of navigation patrols? After all, we’re a middle power with a rapidly developing trade and commercial relationship with China and no territorial claims in the region.

Opinion varies. And it is Labor (of all parties) that’s found itself on the more assertive side of the debate.