Paul Keating, a legendary Australian leader and former Prime Minister of Britain, mocked Boris Johnson as a “coconut head” for his British counterpart.
Keating, who served as PM Down Under between 1991 and 1996, mocked Britain’s capability to provide a substantial military response to the rising of China.
He was asked in a Q&A with the National Press Club if he could see Britain ‘coming to Australia’s rescue’ in the Asia-Pacific.
“Look, poor coconut head Johnson,” Mr Keating responded dismissively to this question, referring to the British prime Minister.
Boring Johnson, British Prime Minister was mocked by legendary Australian leader
Talk about fantasy, Britain sent its largest battleships to East Asia in 1904 and took them out. You don’t think the British can play an important role.
You can’t help but think the Chinese are capable of building 63 sub-s. Would an aircraft carrier built by them have survived a serious dust up? Can Britain help us here? It is not.
“The France was the only country that was willing to help us, so we turned our backs on them.”
He also took aim at Mr Keating in another section of his speech before he was reminded about Mr Johnson’s name.
“Britain’s history is older than modern China. He said that China was going to be enormous.
Mr Keating also blasted current Australian PM Scott Morrison over the decision to build nuclear submarines, saying they will be impotent compared with Chinese naval power by the time they are ready in about 2040.
He claimed that they will become obsolete so quickly it’d be like throwing teethpicks at the top of a mountain.
He said, “Eight submarines against China, when we get them in 20 years, it will be like throwing some toothpicks at the mountain.”
Paul Keating, former prime minister appears to be speaking virtually before the National Press Club
Morrison, who had been contracted with France for twelve conventional submarines, cancelled the contract in September and opted for a partnership between the USA and UK called AUKUS. The new relationship will provide Australia with technology for building nuclear vessels for the first-time.
However, Mr Keating stated that they would take too much time to arrive. This is in contrast to China’s navy, which has already six subs powered by nuclear and over 50 subs powered with diesel.
Keating led Australia between 1991-1996 as Labor Prime Minister and said that eight US-style nuclear submarines would have little military effect.
‘These Virginia-class submarines were designed in the 1990s – by the time we have half a dozen of them it’ll be 2045 or 2050 – they’ll be 50 or 60 years old.
‘In other words, our new submarines will be old tech – it’ll be like buying an old 747.
‘And here we were, we’re going to wait twenty odd years for the first one, 35 to 40 to get it all. What will these boats look like?
Keating suggested that Australia could have asked France about its nuclear-powered submarines, instead of working with the US or the UK.
He said, “If we weren’t happy with diesels the obvious choice was to choose the most modern submarine on the drawing board which is the French nuclear submarine.”
Australia will soon acquire eight submarines powered by nuclear fuel to counter Beijing’s increasing navy. It will also share advanced military technology with Washington, London and Washington.
Britain and America will help Australia to build nuclear-powered submarines in an unrivalled partnership called AUKUS. (pictured: A British Astute-class sub nuclear submarine that is expected to be similar to the Australian design).
Keating claimed that Australia had fallen in line with US strategies to use nuclear “hunter killer” submarines to control China.
He stated that the whole purpose of the hunter-killer submarines was to capture the Chinese nuclear submarines, keep them in shallow water of the Chinese continental shelf and prevent them from reaching the Mariana Trench.
“To prevent them from possessing nuclear capabilities towards the United States.”
According to the 77-year old, China does not want to extend its eastward territory and Australia must focus on its defense with its conventional submarines.
«[Former Deputy Prime Minister]Kim Beazley & I designed the Collins [class submarines]It is. They were constructed for Australia’s defense. His purpose was to keep out any vessels that might be threatening us.
Morrison however wants nuclear-powered subs of the US and UK design, as they are quicker, more stealthy, longer-lasting, and safer than standard submarines. This is expected to happen by 2040.
Keating was also critical of the Morrison Government’s April 2020 request for inquiry into Covid-19’s origins, made in Wuhan, China.
China was outraged by the call and placed huge tariffs against Australian imports like wine and barley.
Mr Keating charged Mr Morrison with ‘wanting to only lead Australia into an end strategic by its needless provocations against China’.
Instead, he suggested that Australia show China respect because of the fact it has lifted millions from poverty through its rapid economic growth in recent decades.
China’s recent expansion of territory claimed by it in South China Sea has exacerbated tensions, much to the annoyance of Asia-Pacific neighbours
He stated that he believed the Chinese desire to be acknowledged for the validity of their actions and creations.
Mr Keating who has often defended Australia’s Chinese government said Beijing doesn’t pose a threat despite its massive military build-up in the South and East China Seas and extensive territorial claims within the region.
He said that China does not pose a threat to Australia.
China does not want to overthrow the current world order. He stated that it only seeks to reform it and because it has the only size to do so.
“It joined the World Trade Organisation. It signed up for the International Monetary Fund.
Xi Jinping (Chinese President) attends the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Beijing via video link on October 31,
Keating stated that Australia should focus its diplomacy on Asia, rather than the Anglosphere.
“Here, we’re running to Cornwall for our safety in Asia.” He was referring to the G7 summit held in the UK last June, where the AUKUS agreement was signed.
“We’re at odds with geography, and have lost our way.”
Keating stated that China is too large to be ignored or contained and called for peaceful coexistence.
He stated, “We need to confront them because their power is so powerful in this region of the globe,”
Former Prime Minister said Australia shouldn’t be involved in Taiwan.
China has claimed Taiwan as its territory, and has made a vow to do so by force. Taiwan insists that it is independent and will protect its democracy and freedoms.
He said that Taiwan was not an important Australian interest.
“We do not have any alliances with Taipei. Australia shouldn’t be involved in a military conflict over Taiwan, whether it is US-sponsored or not.
Taiwan last month reported that 148 Chinese aircraft had flown above its air defense zone over the course of a period of four days (pictured). This was on top China’s National Day, a significant patriotic holiday.
The Australian submarine program was criticised again by Jean-Pierre Thebault, the French Ambassador. He accused Australia of robbing France. in the back for the way it failed to tell Paris about AUKUS.
Morrison denied lying to President Emmanuel Macron and claimed France should have realized the $90billion deal was in the works. However, Mr Thebault stated that this was a ‘fictional’ statement and provided an example showing how France was tricked.
He mentioned a joint statement, which was published on August 30, after an audio conference between Jean-Yves Le Drian (French Foreign Minister) and Florence Parly (Armed Forces Minister), and Peter Dutton (Australian counterpart).
According to the statement, ministers had discussed the significance of the submarine agreement. However, Australian officials planned to cancel the deal and launch a new partnership.
At the G20 summit in Rome this week, Scott Morrison, Australian Prime Minister (left), and Emmanuel Macron (left), exchanged awkward handshakes.
A joint statement (above) released on August 30 said Australia and France had discussed the importance of the submarine deal. Two weeks later, it was scrapped
‘What is a hard fact is that still on August 30, French and Australian ministers of foreign affairs and defence had a dialogue, and they agreed a joint communique,’ Mr Thebault said.
It was made available to all and widely appreciated for its ambitious goals. The following sentence was agreed upon by the two nations: “The importance of Future Submarine Program”
It was deliberate… it was clearly a stab in your back.
Jean-Pierre Thebault Ambassador
Is it possible for you to reach an agreement on such a communiqué when there are any questions about the backbone of your cooperation? He said, “Maybe on Mars but not on the planet I live on.”
He claimed that his leader had been’misled’ by Mr Thebault, which was an admission of guilt among the allies.
“Was President Obama lying to you?” Yes, he was.
“Maybe there’s an important distinction between misleading and lying. You know that among heads of state and government, if you deceive a friend or an aIly you are lying to them.
Secretly leaked text message (photo) shows that Emmanuel Macron received a warning from Australia that it would destroy its $90 billion submarine agreement with France
The office of Mr Morrison leaked an intimate text between leaders in order to prove that he wasn’t lying to President Macron To show that the French president knew that the agreement was on unstable ground.
Macron said: “Should I Expect Good or Bad News for Our Joint Submarines Ambitions?”
When questioned by Dubai reporters, Morrison admitted that he had leaked the text.
He said, “Claims had already been made and they were rejected.”
Morrison acknowledged that Macron did not know about negotiations with the US, UK and other countries. But Morrison said that France had informed Macron as soon as June that Australia was looking at alternative options for submarines.