Canada and Australia, eyeing China, signal more military cooperation

PHOTO CAPTION: Illustrative photo —  Australian special operations forces (SOF) approach a target vessel via rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIBs) while U.S. Navy SEALs conduct a fast-rope insertion onto a target vessel from Australian Army S-70A-9 Black Hawks during Talisman Sabre, July 16, 2019. (U.S. Marine Corps photos by Lance Cpl. Nicole Rogge via U.S. Defense Visual Information Distribution Service)

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada and Australia, expressing alarm at China's claims over the disputed waters of the South China Sea, on Thursday said they would increase their military and defense industry cooperation.

Canadian Defence Minister Bill Blair said security in the Indo-Pacific region was being challenged "in a number of significant and difficult ways" and accused Beijing of trying to reshape the international system to advance its own interests.

Blair, speaking after Vancouver talks with Australian counterpart Richard Marles, said the two nations needed to work more closely together to maintain order in the Indo-Pacific.

"We have agreed to pursue closer collaboration by enhancing the interoperability of our armed forces and by deepening our operational cooperation," he told reporters.

The two said they were concerned about what they called Beijing's excessive maritime claims in the South China Sea as well as Chinese military activity around Taiwan.

The Philippines' armed forces and their counterparts from Canada, United States, and Australia this week held joint maritime exercises in the South China Sea.

"Our cooperation is based on seeking to deter. We are absolutely about working with each other so that we can avoid conflict," said Marles, referring to his talks with Blair.

Marles flew to Vancouver from Washington after Wednesday talks in which Australia agreed to begin co-manufacturing guided weapons with the United States next year.



(Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Sandra Maler)