. . [Via Communist Internet... http://www.egroups.com/group/Communist-Internet ] ----- Original Message ----- From: Rick Rozoff <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, August 17, 2001 4:12 PM Subject: 'Asian NATO' Ponders War With China [WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK] Visit our website: HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --------------------------------------------- [Along with Japan, Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines and South Korea: NATO East. The following is not an academic diversion.] Friday August 17, 5:41 PM Australians expected to join defence of Taiwan: US official SYDNEY, Aug 17 (AFP) - The United States expected Australian troops to die alongside American servicemen in any future conflict with China over Taiwan, a senior US State Department official said Friday. US deputy secretary of state Richard Armitage said Australia was obliged to commit troops to any military conflict in the Taiwan Strait. Armitage also threatened that Australia with a backlash from Washington if it failed to lend support to the US in any future Asian conflict. "I am not sure all of our friends here in Australia understand the significance of the alliance to Americans," Armitage told reporters. "It is not a matter of political convenience or of economic interaction ... for us an alliance is an obligation, if necessary, to fight and die for each other. "We are talking on the US side (of) our sons and daughters fighting and dying if Australia comes under attack and, by the way, we are talking about Australian sons and daughters who would be willing to sacrifice their lives to help defend the United States. "That is what an alliance means and when you think about it in those terms ... you realise this is a very special and indeed potent confidence building measure." Armitage, visiting Australia just weeks after the departure of US Secretary of State Colin Powell, also issued a blunt warning to Canberra, saying it was in Australia's interests to join the US in defending Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion. Beijing was stung during Powell's visit here late last month by suggestions Washington was sponsoring closer security ties between itself, Australia, Japan and South Korea as a means of containing China's sphere of influence in the region. When quizzed about tensions between Washington and Beijing over Taiwan, which China regards as a renegade province, Armitage said any US defence of the island would be in Australia's interests. "I think the overwhelming view in the United States is, it is hard to imagine a military action of any sort here by the United States which wouldn't in large measure also be in Australia's interest," he said. "If that is the case then ... I can't imagine one of the great events of our time taking place without Australian participation at some level. "If the Australian government made a decision, in the terrible event the United States was involved in a conflict, that it was not in their interest to participate in some level then we would have to take a look at where we are after the dust has settled." __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Make international calls for as low as $.04/minute with Yahoo! Messenger http://phonecard.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------------------------- This Discussion List is the follow-up for the old stopnato @listbot.com that has been shut down ==^================================================================ EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9spWC Or send an email To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] This email was sent to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
