Paul Keating accuses Marles of ‘careless betrayal' over China
Former prime minister Paul Keating has lashed Defence Minister Richard Marles for suggesting Australia's territory was crucial to the great power contest between the United States and China, accusing him of betraying his country.
Marles told a conference on Monday that China was conducting the largest conventional military buildup since the end of World War II, which he said meant 'Australia's geography today is more relevant to great power contest'.
Should conflict break out, Marles said, Australia was not at risk of invasion, but its seaborne trade could be disrupted. His conference hosts at The Australian interpreted that as an admission that the country would be involved in conflict between the US and China.
Keating, who is known for his invective, said Marles' statement marked a 'dark moment in Australia's history'.
'A moment when an Australian Labor government intellectually ceded Australia to the United States as a platform for the US and by implication, Australia, for military engagement against the Chinese state in response to a threat China is alleged to be making.'
The Labor elder, who has split from his parliamentary party over foreign policy but remains revered by MPs and ordinary members alike for his reforming time in office, claimed the Albanese government was putting the country in hock to the US without voters' approval.
'The fact is, China has not threatened Australia militarily, nor indeed has it threatened the United States,' Keating said.
'And it has no intention of so threatening.
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