Greens warn nuclear submarines deal risks war with China as Albanese says Aukus ‘full-steam ahead’

Anthony Albanese has reiterated that Aukus is “full-steam ahead” after the Greens renewed calls to cancel the nuclear-powered submarines deal, which the minor party warned could draw Australia into a potential US war with China. Debate over the security pact has resurfaced after the announcement that Australia would buy secondhand Virginia-class submarines from the US, rather than a mix of old and new vessels. The Greens have seized on the development to re-prosecute the case for the government to abandon the multi-decade, $368bn agreement. Appearing on ABC’s Insiders program on Sunday, the Greens’ defence spokesperson, David Shoebridge, said the focus of Australia’s military assets should be on defending the nation’s borders. He suggested that could be done with conventional submarines and other weapons, rejecting the need for capabilities designed to operate “thousands of thousands of kilometres from our shore” – such as the nuclear-powered vessels. Shoebridge said buying the Virginia-class submarines would make Australia an “interoperable” part of the US military, drawing the country into a potential conflict with China. “Nuclear submarines are pretty much a disaster on every front,” he said. “Why are we inviting ourselves to a US war with China by buying this weapons platforms and making our defence an interoperable part of the US?” Shoebridge said the greatest strategic threat facing the country was not China’s military buildup or disruptions to key shipping lanes. …