Former Australian Prime Minister and current Ambassador to the United States, Kevin Rudd, publicly criticized the Chinese Communist Party, labeling them as the main instigator of turmoil in the Indo-Pacific region. Speaking via video from Washington to the American research center in Sydney, Rudd emphasized that China’s expansion in strategic, military, and economic aspects is the primary driving force behind the instability in the region.
Rudd expressed his confidence in the cooperation between Australia and the United States under the leadership of the Trump administration. His remarks come at a time when there are concerns about China’s delays in reaching security agreements with Papua New Guinea and interference in Australia’s security agreement with Vanuatu. Current Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese refrained from directly naming and criticizing China, citing concerns about the bilateral relationship, which led to criticism from strategic experts.
During his speech, Rudd directly pointed out China’s high military spending and economic coercion. He highlighted China’s rapid increase in defense expenditure, particularly in its navy, which now surpasses that of the United States. Rudd cited examples of Chinese warships circumnavigating Australia’s mainland and conducting live-fire exercises in the Tasman Sea as clear provocative signals.
Rudd stated that China’s threats have actually strengthened the US-Australia alliance as they now rely on each other for military, intelligence resources, defense industry, and trade partnerships. He expressed confidence in the trilateral nuclear submarine cooperation known as AUKUS and believed that the plan remains on track despite Pentagon reviews, deeming such scrutiny appropriate.
Highlighting the strong US-Australia relationship, Rudd revealed that Prime Minister Albanese has spoken with President Trump four times over the past eight months, more than during Rudd’s own tenure. He anticipated a meeting between Albanese and Trump during the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
At the same conference, former US Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines issued a warning, emphasizing the need for active resistance against China’s “destructive ambitions” in the region. Haines stressed the importance of cautious retaliation to deter future provocations from China.
Haines also noted a “revolutionary change” in intelligence cooperation among the US, Australia, and Japan in recent years, enabling allies to better understand the threats posed by China and develop effective response strategies.