The new "AUKUS" defence pact between Blighty, Uncle Sam and Oz has ruffled some feathers ...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-58592613.amp
One up: France with their loss of a multi-billion diesel subs deal. You know it's bad when the Froggies refuse to go to a freebie cheese and wine party! ...
France's Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian called the announcement a "stab in the back".
He called it a "brutal, unilateral and unpredictable decision" that reminded him of former president Donald Trump.
French diplomats in Washington cancelled a gala to celebrate ties between the US and France in retaliation.
Ooh-la-la!
Two up: Ping-a-Ling smarting and ranting about Cold War II being on the cards ...
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-58564837.amp
China has condemned the agreement as "extremely irresponsible".
Foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said it "seriously undermines regional peace and stability and intensifies the arms race".
China's embassy in Washington accused the countries of a "Cold War mentality and ideological prejudice".
Would it were so Xi me old mate, would it were so! Keep talking it up into the bargain and let's get "Cold War mentality" circulating globally again - double quick time!
Three up: AUKUS just pissed all over COP26's fireworks because Ping-a-Ling's "Me no-likey" hissy-fit might mean he pulls the plug on toeing the zero carbon line ...
The timing of the new defence deal between the US, UK and Australia has dismayed climate experts, who fear it could have a negative effect on hopes of a deal with China on greenhouse gas emissions ahead of vital UN climate talks.
The Anglo-sphere cooking on gas! I say, well done Carruthers!
But there has to be one Judas doesn't there? One for whom the filthy lucre proves just too irresistible?
Are the Kiwis going to play the Belgium part in this coming war? Try to be neutral and reap the benefits of both teams - and thereby make itself a latter-day Flanders football to be kicked around by the two sides' players when it really kicks off? ...
At which point New Zealand could have expected a drum roll, too, having only just marked the 70th anniversary of the ANZUS agreement. That didn’t happen, and New Zealand was conspicuously absent from the choreographed announcement hosted by the White House.
Having remained committed to the Five Eyes security agreement and having put boots on the ground in Afghanistan for the duration, “NZ” appears to have been taken out of ANZUS and replaced with “UK”.
That is perhaps surprising. Despite problematic comments by New Zealand’s trade minister about Australia’s dealings with China, and the foreign minister’s statement that she “felt uncomfortable” with the expanding remit of the Five Eyes, reassurances by Ardern about New Zealand’s commitment should have calmed concerns.
One has to assume, therefore, that even if New Zealand had been asked to join, it might have chosen to opt out anyway.
Nonetheless, the fact that New Zealand’s supposedly extra-special relationship with Britain, Australia and America hasn’t made it part of the in-crowd will raise eyebrows. Especially while no one likes to mention the elephant – or should that be dragon? – in the room: New Zealand’s relationship with China.
Or perhaps "Plucky little New Zealand" will try to dismount the dragon? ...
It was one of the minister’s more frank discussions of the vulnerability of New Zealand’s trade dependency on China – and a clear directive to local exporters that they should be seeking to redistribute some of those eggs to baskets elsewhere.
But as the old Chinese adage goes, "Ch'i 'hu nan hsia pei".
SoD
Two things:
1. The French lost a multi-billion diesel subs deal, it was replaced by a nuclear sub deal.
2, It's toe the line, not tow the line. Duff the Elder would never have made such a schoolboy error. :-)
Posted by: FrankH | Friday, 17 September 2021 at 11:31
I've lost one Father on D&N - and gained a hundred!
Duly corrected FrankH!
SoD
Posted by: Loz | Friday, 17 September 2021 at 11:38
SOD
A little long, but a good review of the Australian sub program that just got scrapped. A good thing.
://youtu.be/g2vnciriE_Q
Posted by: Hank | Friday, 17 September 2021 at 11:41
The link
https://youtu.be/g2vnciriE_Q
Posted by: Hank | Friday, 17 September 2021 at 11:43
A Cold War Mentality. Many of us never dropped it for good reason---those who forget the lessons of history, etc etc. It is good that Oz will be a major player due to their strategic location and maybe they can talk some sense into their Kiwi neighbors in time. PM Ardern's dedication to no nuclear presence in Kiwi waters is very dainty in the face of looming geopolitics.
For our part in the US, I would feel more comfortable if we had an actual functioning pro America, pro West, anti Communist Commander in Chief.
Posted by: Whitewall | Friday, 17 September 2021 at 13:10
We need an anti Communist president like the previous one who "fell in love" with Kim Jong-il? Because totalitarianism is better?
There's more than one money angle:
"TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan's economy minister expressed concern on Friday about China's "sudden" decision to apply to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and said it hoped it did not affect the island's application.
China filed to join the free trade agreement in a letter to New Zealand's trade minister, Damien O'Connor."
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/taiwan-wanting-join-pacific-trade-094414974.html
Posted by: Bob | Friday, 17 September 2021 at 14:17
Well I see France has yanked their ambassadors from the US and Oz. Must be po'd.
Posted by: Whitewall | Friday, 17 September 2021 at 22:03
The submarine deal with France was dodgy from the start and if we had kept to it my grandchildren would have been lucky to see the first one launched. On top of that the idea was to convert a nuclear sub to diesel power - that was a fish that wasn't going to swim.
Let the Frogs be pissed off as they are going to get compensation for the cancelled deal. We owe them nothing. In fact they owe us as we sent two generations to help save their sorry arses when their northern neighbors decided to expand their territory on two occasions.
The NZ Prime Minister, Ardearn, is only slightly to the right of Xi being a socialist to the tips of her toes. The Kiwis are dependent on trade with China to an unhealthy degree and don't want to offend them and so leaving them out of the AUKUS arrangement makes sense at the moment. A pity because the average Kiwi is not that way inclined. Adearn is only in government as a result of deals with minor parties.
The other country left out of this deal is Canada which few have seemed to pick up on. Given who is in government there that is not a bad thing as the boy[?] Prime Minister Trudeau should not be trusted with sharp instruments of any kind. Hopefully he will get the flick pass at this election.
All in all a good deal all round in my opinion.
And for JK I hate submarines. Nasty, sneaky things and difficult to hunt.
Posted by: AussieD | Friday, 17 September 2021 at 23:59
AussieD, what Canada's little authoritarian PM is doing is sad to watch. I thought an English speaking nation would know better. But then look at us I guess with our near brain dead C&C and our Praetorian Guard.
Posted by: Whitewall | Saturday, 18 September 2021 at 00:53
I hope the Australians have made their agreement with the actual president, not the senile old duffer!
Posted by: Backofanenvelope | Saturday, 18 September 2021 at 12:41
The article linked above also includes these tidbits:
"But the TPP was thrown into limbo in early 2017 when then-U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew.
The grouping, which was renamed the CPTPP, links Canada, Australia, Brunei, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.
Britain is also keen to join https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/first-meeting-uks-cptpp-inclusion-be-held-month-japan-minister-says-2021-09-01 the trans-Pacific trade deal and in June began negotiations."
and:
"Taiwan has been heartened by recent progress towards trade agreements with the United States and the European Union, which are both frustrated with China's lack of progress in opening its economy and are keen to show their support for Taiwan's democracy and much freer market policies."
There are a lot more moving parts involved than some would like to admit. Despite the melodrama, the US and EU are cooperating.
The French will get over it. We've had an interesting relationship since they helped us banish our colonial oppressors. 20 years ago we were pouring French wine into gutters because they refused to join the invasion of Iraq, which turns out to have been wise.
Posted by: Bob | Saturday, 18 September 2021 at 15:55
Actually Bob the invasion of Iraq was in the economic interest of the USA. Saddam had made up with Iran and the Straits of Hormuz were threatened with blockade. As for the Frogs they are still Colonial minded and will never get over losing Canada or their Vichy Second World War Fleet to the British. They are a criminal supporting nation allowing so called refugees to sail on any means of transport to cross the English Chanel.
Posted by: glesga | Saturday, 18 September 2021 at 18:58
Glesga,
The French, including French Canadians, might never get over the British taking Canada, and a lot of Americans, mostly on our political right, would still like to annex Canada. The last (goofy) attempts were to absorb Quebec during the Quebec sovereignty movements of the 1980s and '90s. The most famous was probably our War of 1812.
Posted by: Bob | Saturday, 18 September 2021 at 19:35
NZs government is a clear majority with no minor parties required. The foreign ministers comments re 5 Eyes not being a mouthpiece are correct.. they were never intended as such, just a spying and intelligence sharing arrangement. The no nuclear power in NZ waters is a difficult one to turn over politically in NZ as the anti nuke stance is part of the mythology of the building of the nation. In time nuke power will be a possible exception though not from this hard left bunch of schoolteachers in charge. In terms of military capability it is bizarre that we bought 4 Poseidon asw planes but cannot exercise with our Allies' subs! In general terms NZ has a tiny population and economy, trashed by Covid, it is 1500 km from the nearest country and can't afford a military fighter with multiple tanker aircraft to make them useful. NZ will likely spend on Naval and Army forces.
Posted by: Stewart | Saturday, 18 September 2021 at 21:44
Stewart, "from this hard left bunch of schoolteachers in charge". I do like that phrase!
Posted by: Whitewall | Saturday, 18 September 2021 at 21:58
AussieD, you are right about Quadrant On Line:
https://quadrant.org.au/opinion/society/2021/09/the-left-and-the-decline-of-the-moral-community/
Posted by: Whitewall | Sunday, 19 September 2021 at 13:41
Bob, a Glaswegian was the first Canadian PM. He attended a church in Glasgow City Centre. We Scots did attempt to educate the North Americans while the Spanish and Portuguese decimated the South American indigenous people with their pox and religion.
Posted by: Glesga | Sunday, 19 September 2021 at 20:27
Whitewall, the commies and other various potential dictators are always with us. Vigilance is needed permanently. The potential dictators are good at telling the masses how wunderbar life would be under them.
In a prison in East Berlin standing in a pool of water with their testicle attached to a battery charger.
Posted by: Glesga | Sunday, 19 September 2021 at 20:37
Stewart,New Zealand is a possible ISIS State unless some of the people get a grip.
Posted by: Glesga | Sunday, 19 September 2021 at 21:50
Glesga, we are eternally grateful, with possible exceptions for all the religious fundamentalists, taxation without representation, slavery, and a few other lessons. I'm fairly sure you gave a lot of us gonorrhea and syphilis too.
Posted by: Bob | Sunday, 19 September 2021 at 22:58
Bob, we could not stop the Irish.Soo Sorry.
Posted by: Glesga | Monday, 20 September 2021 at 20:39