Sunday, May 24, 2020 2:53:48 AM
Mike Pompeo warns US could 'disconnect' from Australia over Victoria's Belt and Road deal
"China’s inexorable rise is helped by Trump’s retreat
"Former Foreign Affairs Minister Bob Carr says America will find it hard
to contain the rise of China as the dominant power in the region ""
Mr. master Trump sir laid it on Ukraine, so guess Pompeo thinks he can threaten Australia too. It's more
likely just more 'tough guy' rhetoric in an effort to shore up Trump's weakening base than anything real.
By Yara Murray-Atfield
Posted 1 hour ago, updated 1 hour ago
VIDEO - Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says the Belt and Road initiative comes at a cost to those who sign on.
The US Secretary of State has said his nation could "simply disconnect" from Australia if Victoria's trade deal with Beijing affects US telecommunications.
Key points:
* Victoria has been criticised for sticking with the infrastructure agreement during increased tensions with China
* Mike Pompeo said the Belt and Road project increased the Chinese Government's ability to "do harm"
* The State Government said it would never agree to telecommunications projects under the deal
Mike Pompeo said while he was not aware of the detail of Victoria's agreement, he warned it could impact his nation's Five Eyes intelligence-sharing partnership with Australia.
In an interview with Sky News, Mr Pompeo warned the Belt and Road agreement with the Andrews Government .. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-24/victoria-deepens-links-with-china-controversial-belt-and-road/11636704 .. increased the Chinese communist regime's ability to do "harm".
China's trillion-dollar Belt and Road initiative is a global infrastructure push aiming to recreate the glory days of China's ancient Silk Road trade routes.
The highly controversial scheme has been panned by many Western democracies, including Australia.
Reading the BRI's fineprint
More and more countries are choosing to ink agreements with China on its trillion-dollar
Belt and Road initiative, but what are countries actually agreeing to when they sign on?
Read more > https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-01/china-belt-and-road-what-does-it-mean-when-countries-sign-on/10562374
But Victoria has gone it alone on signing up to the infrastructure initiative, with Premier Daniel Andrews inking a Memorandum of Understanding with China in 2018 .. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-26/victoria-and-china-belt-and-road-signing-mou/10435148 .. and committing to deepen the state's involvement in 2019 .. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-24/victoria-deepens-links-with-china-controversial-belt-and-road/11636704 .
The non-legally-binding agreement allows Victorian infrastructure experts to get access to the hundreds of billions of dollars of projects slated for the Belt and Road.
It also encourages Chinese infrastructure firms to establish a presence in Victoria and to bid for major infrastructure projects.
Despite criticism, Premier Daniel Andrews says the deal is in the interest of
Victoria's economy.(Twitter: Lisa Tucker)
"I don't know the nature of those projects precisely," Mr Pompeo told Sky News today.
[Insert: It might be wiser to know more about the projects before you
make comment as you have. Then again there is an election coming up, eh Mike.]
"To the extent they have an adverse impact on our ability to protect telecommunications from our private citizens, or security networks for our defence and intelligence communities — we simply disconnect, we will simply separate.
"We are going to preserve trust in networks for important information. We hope our friends and allies, especially our Five Eyes partners like Australia, do the same."
Mr Pompeo said the scheme broadly came at "some cost" to those who signed on.
"Every nation has its own sovereign right to make decisions for itself, and I suppose Victoria has some rights that it can undertake but every citizen of Australia should know that every one of those Belt and Road projects needs to be looked at incredibly closely," he said.
Deal 'about Victorian jobs', Premier says
The State Opposition has criticised the Andrews Government for continuing with the infrastructure deal despite increased tensions between Canberra and Beijing.
China has reacted angrily to the Federal Government's push for an independent inquiry .. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-20/wha-passes-coronavirus-investigation-australia-what-cost/12265896 .. into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Beijing has recently imposed tariffs of 80 per cent on Australian barley .. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-10/coronavirus-china-australia-trade-tension-barley-tariff/12232426 .. and put an import ban on four Australian abattoirs .. https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2020-05-12/china-trade-escalation-as-beef-farmers-are-targeted/12237468 , moves which the Morrison Government says is unrelated to the inquiry.
But Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas last week made a connection to the events, saying: "I don't suppose it would come as a surprise to anybody that this was the consequence of the way that the Federal Government had conducted themselves."
He earlier told a parliamentary committee the state would "absolutely not" be putting the deal on hold .. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-13/coronavirus-cases-victoria-police-fines-restrictions-ease/12241678 .. while the inquiry was conducted.
When asked about Mr Pompeo's comments at a press conference, Mr Andrews said while he had not seen the interview, "my position on these matters is very well known".
"It's all about Victoria jobs and we'll continue to work at a strong partnership," he said.
"Doesn't mean we agree on everything, there are many things we don't agree on.
"But what I think all of us here and indeed both parts of our partnership, both Victoria, Australia and China — surely we all have to concede and we all have to recognise that a good, strong partnership is in everyone's interests."
A Government spokesperson later said the Belt and Road framework was "about creating opportunities for Victorian businesses and local jobs — opportunities that will be more important than ever as we rebuild from the coronavirus pandemic".
"Telecommunications regulation is the responsibility of the Commonwealth Government," the spokesperson continued.
"Victoria has not, and will not in the future, agree to telecommunications projects under the BRI."
Posted 1hhour ago, updated 1hhour ago
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-24/mike-pompeo-warning-over-victoria-belt-and-road-deal/12280956
See also:
Here we go.... Someone in Washington better wake the fuck up.
A blow to Washington…
China to invest $280 billion in Iranian sectors targeted by sanctions
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The American mercenary behind Blackwater is helping China establish the new Silk Road
[...]
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Chinese state-backed conglomerate tightens grip on company of Blackwater founder
https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=140007820
Beijing complains about Australia's 'irresponsible' attack on China's Pacific aid program
"China displeased with South China Sea talk in Australia's foreign policy White Paper"
https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=137592755
What China’s PPP-Fueled Investment Boom Means for the Economy
Public-private partnership infrastructure spending will boost China’s economy but increase local government debt.
https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=131347756
Why a Trump Presidency Could Be a Boon for China
The U.S. president-elect’s erratic behavior gives China the chance to lead on trade, climate change, and defense.
2016 - https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=127320565
"China’s inexorable rise is helped by Trump’s retreat
"Former Foreign Affairs Minister Bob Carr says America will find it hard
to contain the rise of China as the dominant power in the region ""
Mr. master Trump sir laid it on Ukraine, so guess Pompeo thinks he can threaten Australia too. It's more
likely just more 'tough guy' rhetoric in an effort to shore up Trump's weakening base than anything real.
By Yara Murray-Atfield
Posted 1 hour ago, updated 1 hour ago
VIDEO - Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says the Belt and Road initiative comes at a cost to those who sign on.
The US Secretary of State has said his nation could "simply disconnect" from Australia if Victoria's trade deal with Beijing affects US telecommunications.
Key points:
* Victoria has been criticised for sticking with the infrastructure agreement during increased tensions with China
* Mike Pompeo said the Belt and Road project increased the Chinese Government's ability to "do harm"
* The State Government said it would never agree to telecommunications projects under the deal
Mike Pompeo said while he was not aware of the detail of Victoria's agreement, he warned it could impact his nation's Five Eyes intelligence-sharing partnership with Australia.
In an interview with Sky News, Mr Pompeo warned the Belt and Road agreement with the Andrews Government .. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-24/victoria-deepens-links-with-china-controversial-belt-and-road/11636704 .. increased the Chinese communist regime's ability to do "harm".
China's trillion-dollar Belt and Road initiative is a global infrastructure push aiming to recreate the glory days of China's ancient Silk Road trade routes.
The highly controversial scheme has been panned by many Western democracies, including Australia.
Reading the BRI's fineprint
More and more countries are choosing to ink agreements with China on its trillion-dollar
Belt and Road initiative, but what are countries actually agreeing to when they sign on?
Read more > https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-01/china-belt-and-road-what-does-it-mean-when-countries-sign-on/10562374
But Victoria has gone it alone on signing up to the infrastructure initiative, with Premier Daniel Andrews inking a Memorandum of Understanding with China in 2018 .. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-26/victoria-and-china-belt-and-road-signing-mou/10435148 .. and committing to deepen the state's involvement in 2019 .. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-24/victoria-deepens-links-with-china-controversial-belt-and-road/11636704 .
The non-legally-binding agreement allows Victorian infrastructure experts to get access to the hundreds of billions of dollars of projects slated for the Belt and Road.
It also encourages Chinese infrastructure firms to establish a presence in Victoria and to bid for major infrastructure projects.
Despite criticism, Premier Daniel Andrews says the deal is in the interest of
Victoria's economy.(Twitter: Lisa Tucker)
"I don't know the nature of those projects precisely," Mr Pompeo told Sky News today.
[Insert: It might be wiser to know more about the projects before you
make comment as you have. Then again there is an election coming up, eh Mike.]
"To the extent they have an adverse impact on our ability to protect telecommunications from our private citizens, or security networks for our defence and intelligence communities — we simply disconnect, we will simply separate.
"We are going to preserve trust in networks for important information. We hope our friends and allies, especially our Five Eyes partners like Australia, do the same."
Mr Pompeo said the scheme broadly came at "some cost" to those who signed on.
"Every nation has its own sovereign right to make decisions for itself, and I suppose Victoria has some rights that it can undertake but every citizen of Australia should know that every one of those Belt and Road projects needs to be looked at incredibly closely," he said.
Deal 'about Victorian jobs', Premier says
The State Opposition has criticised the Andrews Government for continuing with the infrastructure deal despite increased tensions between Canberra and Beijing.
China has reacted angrily to the Federal Government's push for an independent inquiry .. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-20/wha-passes-coronavirus-investigation-australia-what-cost/12265896 .. into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Beijing has recently imposed tariffs of 80 per cent on Australian barley .. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-10/coronavirus-china-australia-trade-tension-barley-tariff/12232426 .. and put an import ban on four Australian abattoirs .. https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2020-05-12/china-trade-escalation-as-beef-farmers-are-targeted/12237468 , moves which the Morrison Government says is unrelated to the inquiry.
But Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas last week made a connection to the events, saying: "I don't suppose it would come as a surprise to anybody that this was the consequence of the way that the Federal Government had conducted themselves."
He earlier told a parliamentary committee the state would "absolutely not" be putting the deal on hold .. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-13/coronavirus-cases-victoria-police-fines-restrictions-ease/12241678 .. while the inquiry was conducted.
When asked about Mr Pompeo's comments at a press conference, Mr Andrews said while he had not seen the interview, "my position on these matters is very well known".
"It's all about Victoria jobs and we'll continue to work at a strong partnership," he said.
"Doesn't mean we agree on everything, there are many things we don't agree on.
"But what I think all of us here and indeed both parts of our partnership, both Victoria, Australia and China — surely we all have to concede and we all have to recognise that a good, strong partnership is in everyone's interests."
A Government spokesperson later said the Belt and Road framework was "about creating opportunities for Victorian businesses and local jobs — opportunities that will be more important than ever as we rebuild from the coronavirus pandemic".
"Telecommunications regulation is the responsibility of the Commonwealth Government," the spokesperson continued.
"Victoria has not, and will not in the future, agree to telecommunications projects under the BRI."
Posted 1hhour ago, updated 1hhour ago
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-24/mike-pompeo-warning-over-victoria-belt-and-road-deal/12280956
See also:
Here we go.... Someone in Washington better wake the fuck up.
A blow to Washington…
China to invest $280 billion in Iranian sectors targeted by sanctions
https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=150998369
The American mercenary behind Blackwater is helping China establish the new Silk Road
[...]
Citic boosts stake in Erik Prince’s security group Frontier
Chinese state-backed conglomerate tightens grip on company of Blackwater founder
https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=140007820
Beijing complains about Australia's 'irresponsible' attack on China's Pacific aid program
"China displeased with South China Sea talk in Australia's foreign policy White Paper"
https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=137592755
What China’s PPP-Fueled Investment Boom Means for the Economy
Public-private partnership infrastructure spending will boost China’s economy but increase local government debt.
https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=131347756
Why a Trump Presidency Could Be a Boon for China
The U.S. president-elect’s erratic behavior gives China the chance to lead on trade, climate change, and defense.
2016 - https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=127320565
It was Plato who said, “He, O men, is the wisest, who like Socrates, knows that his wisdom is in truth worth nothing”
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