FROM : https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/sovereignty-at-risk-subtext-is-offensive-20210916-p58s8j.html

This decision to create the AUKUS alliance locks Australia into another nation’s foreign policy and is an affront to our national sovereignty (“Nuclear deal stokes tensions”, September 17). Make no mistake, these subs are not defensive in nature, they are an offensive capability. Australian dollars and Australian naval personnel will be subject to the strategic and economic aims of the United States in its power struggle against China. Surely, after the debacles of Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan the wisdom of mindlessly following Uncle Sam needs to be questioned. 

Paul Pearce, Bronte

Australia is to entrench our client status with the fading empires of other times and hemispheres and again eschew meaningful peer engagement with the nations and peoples of our region. In doing so, we will fund the arms’ industry – not more just and peaceful regional relationships – through buying more of their toys, so we can join the wars they will ask us to play in. 

Quentin Dignam, Tamworth 

What on earth are we doing in the world of diplomacy, posturing on the world stage over the formation of AUKUS, which shows us to be untrustworthy and foolish considering the time frame for the submarines to be delivered? We have lost the trust of our allies, the French, and we have also poked the bear, Panda that is, at a time when caution and diplomacy are called for. 

Christina Foo, North Wahroonga

Such a substandard commitment from our submissive PM. As subjects of this government, we are entitled to a full parliamentary debate. We should not be treated as a subterranean, compliant voter base simply advised of such a decision as a fait accompli. “I do not comment on underwater matters” may be the new mantra. 

Maureen Moss, Beecroft

The PM is to be congratulated on the AUKUS alliance. No one believes for one minute the rhetoric and propaganda issued from Beijing. Xi Jinping is determined to assert communist might across the world. Our new alliance must make the first strike, not through war but economically, to counter China’s charm offensive in the Pacific. Since 2006, billions of dollars of aid has poured into the Pacific, delivered as infrastructure projects funded by concessional loans that can never be repaid, to allow Chinese state-owned enterprises establish themselves in the region. As each loan defaults, China marches across sovereign borders to assume control in the region. We must step in and repay these debts now to stop their expansion across the Pacific. Then we can deploy our new fleet of nuclear submarines. 

Michele Iacono, Rosebery

GUSNOTE: TONY ABBOTT and all the following "Liberal" Prime Ministers ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR AUSTRALIA ABANDONING THE INDO-PACIFIC REGION. THE CHINESE "TOOK OVER" AFTER HAVING BEEN INVITED TO DO SO...

Of course, we can trust the US but not, as Peter Hartcher points out, if US voters deliver us another Donald Trump, or worse, the same one (“Australia’s submarine program has truly lost its rudder”, September 17). 

Greg Cameron, Wamboin

If you block out all the white noise around the announcements of our new arrangements to build nuclear-powered submarines all you can hear is Scott Morrison forging his way to an imminent election banging the drums of fear (“Fella from Down Under will sell a fleet of fancy”, September 17). Fear for our national security, fear of China, fear for our very existence. I have been wondering when the next electioneering white rabbit would be pulled out of the hat and there we have it, compliments of “that fella from Down Under”. 

Donna Wiemann, Balmain

Morrison has put the Coalition on an electoral footing squarely based on national security. Labor have fallen into the trap. Their plans to fight the upcoming election on the vaccines and purpose-built quarantine facilities have just been destroyed by this masterful stroke. They have no option but to support Morrison’s cobbled together action plans aimed at frightening every Australian to support the new mantra. 

Chris Rivers, Port Macquarie

With COP 21 commencing in Glasgow in November, Morrison has come up with an ultimate “look over here” moment. For a government not so good at walking and chewing gum, this is an obvious ploy to neglect the need for climate action. 

Cheryl Kay, Miranda

What sort of nation have we become that we can spend over $90 billion on nuclear submarines in a blink but not commit to action on climate change? 

Wendy Varney, Leura

I thought ditching the ludicrously expensive pie in the sky French submarines for a more ludicrously expensive UK/US version was part of a Monty Python sketch. But it is a splendid diversion from JobKeeper rorts, pork barrelling, ministerial responsibility, virus mismanagement and general lack of policy. 

Peter Bourke, Rockdale

What a comforting announcement during the pandemic and the interminable Sydney lockdown: nuclear-powered submarines to keep us all safe. 

Megan Brock, Summer Hill

AUKUS sounds like a shameful amalgam of “awkward” and “raucous”. 

Ray Alexander, Moss Vale

GUSNOTE: TO THE FRENCH "AUKUS" SOUNDS LIKE "Au Cul"... MEANING "IN THE ARSE!"

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