I’ve come to Indonesia for my first overseas visit since the election because our region comes first. Australia and Indonesia are the nearest of neighbours and the closest of friends. Working with President @prabowo over the coming years, we will build stronger connections between our two countries. Stronger ties with our neighbours means a stronger economy and more jobs in Australia.
Context: "@AlboMP and Marles assert that the US militarization of Australia protects Australia's sovereignty... it's done exactly the opposite. It so undermines AU sovereignty that AU has no independent agency on any matter of existential consequence." (John Lander) A Forced Posture? Veteran diplomat John Lander was former deputy ambassador to China (1974-76) and former AU Ambassador to Iran (1985-87). In a series of interviews with @RobbieBarwick for @CitizensPartyAU he outlines exactly the terms of this loss of AU sovereignty to the US under AUKUS: "The Force Posture agreement, which affords the USA unimpeded access to, and exclusive use of, all AU bases in which it chooses to locate its military assets, makes it clear that Australia has no say in how, when, where and against whom such assets will be used." (video 1) When @AlboMP asserts "our region comes first" thus, under AUKUS, arguably in any AU consideration of "our region", does such entirely defer to a US foreign policy agenda for the Indo-Pacific? As to this agenda, @PeterCronau points out that "Four Australian ports to import US bombs ready for US war with China": x.com/PeterCronau/st… Lander, once again, effectively now characterizes the role of AU in "our region": "The US has made it clear that China is enemy number one. And Australia has dutifully joined in in adopting a hostile attitude towards China, our principal trading partner. So we now have the schizophrenic policy of pleading with China to buy ever more of our exports, so that we can earn enough money to pay for the armaments from America that we will use in a war against China." (video 2) And now: "Our region comes first"? To which @drcwhos reply below is indicative of perhaps a key issue: "Time to raise the issue of joining Indonesia in non-aligned armed neutrality. Neither Indonesia or Australia need or want foreign bases which are offensive not defensive and threaten regional security": x.com/drcwhos/status… To which, Lander again specifies the exact threat AU arguably poses to security in "our region": "Northern Australia is the epicenter of the projection of US power in the Indo-Pacific. Think about the consequence: AU is the epicenter of any retaliation against that projection of power... Marles boasts that 'the extended range and lethality of AU's military capability, enhanced by the complete interchangeability of AU and US armed forces, will enable AU to strike potential adversaries further from our own shores'. This surely could only be perceived by the countries of our region as increasing the level of threat against them. Perhaps this is why we see Indonesia..." (video 3)
Tony Albanese said; "I’ve come to Indonesia for my first overseas visit since the election because our region comes first." Nothing about Australia. Nothing about the record number of rough sleepers who fill our cities. When asked about his number one priority after the election, without a second of delay he uttered "student debt" in reference to his 20-billion-dollar bribe for wealthy uni students. This bloke has no clue and lacks clear judgment and doesn't read the room. A useless PM sending the nation to the brink. Sending us broke.
@AlboMP Did you forget to bring those 2 other flags with you?
@AlboMP @prabowo Dear @AlboMP & @prabowo, 13 years of waiting, of broken dreams, of fading hope. We are refugees, for a future. Please, hear our voice End this endless limbo. Grant us dignity, not despair. #End13YearsInLimbo_Indonesia
@AlboMP @prabowo Time to raise the issue of joining Indonesia in non aligned armed neutrality Neither Indonesia or Australia need or want foreign bases which are offensive not defencive and threaten regional security @IPAusNet @DavidShoebridge @latingle
When David McBride was out on bail, he should have fled to Indonesia and claimed political asylum. Would have created international embarrassment problems in our region and further afield for Messrs Albo, Wong and Marles as I don't think the Indonesians would have handed him back. @MurdochCadell @MichaelWestBiz
Australia should come first. We have a lot of problems at home that you should be dealing with. Come to think of it you either created the problems or made them worse. Then you lied your way back to power. We know everyone will be left behind and no will move forward as long as you and useless labor government are in power. How dumb were we putting you back in power.
