Australia has signed a South Korean arms deal with US allies seeking to “keep” China

Australia has signed an A $ 1bn (US $ 717m) deal with South Korean security company Hanwha that strengthens ties between the two US allies but that could lead to Chinese opposition.

An agreement to purchase 30 self-propelled howitzers and 15 armored vehicles, is the largest security agreement signed between Australia and Asia. It was announced during a visit by President Moon Jae-in to Australia, the first foreign direct visit to the country since the outbreak of the coronavirus.

“Our full cooperation with the Republic of Korea is supported by our commitment to security and safety,” Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Monday.

“The alliance with Hanwha underscores the importance of industrial cooperation in helping our countries deal with security challenges.”

The two leaders also announced an agreement on clean energy and essential minerals, encouraging their countries’ efforts to be protected in areas such as batteries and magnets.

Investigators have said that South Korea’s desire to upgrade its relationship with Australia to become a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” during the acute problems between Canberra and Beijing was bold and impartial.

Seoul did not want to take part in the growing rivalry between the US, its main security partner, and China, which is growing rapidly. dear friend. It has avoided seeking membership in the “Quad”, a US-led group that also includes Australia, India and Japan.

Australia clashed with China in September when it announced the new military alliance called Aukus to. building nuclear submarines and US and UK. The agreement was designed to deal with Beijing’s military might in the Asia-Pacific region.

Canberra also recently announced a US-led partnership diplomatic boycott Winter Beijing Olympics in February on human rights issues.

“The agreement provides South Korea with a link to Australian security, which could show that it is closely aligned with the American approach to the Indo-Pacific – meaning to secure China,” said Go Myong-hyun, a. A senior associate at the Asan Institute of Policy Studies in Seoul.

Moon, however, reaffirmed his commitment to good relations with Beijing.

“South Korea is looking forward to a lasting partnership with the US and China,” Moon said. “We want a cohesive relationship.”

Go said “it does not matter how Seoul would try to say it is the same with the US and China, to act like this is to raise the bar on Beijing heading for Washington”.

Australia has also signed a number of recent security agreements that seek to address the issue promoting China, including more recent, announced last week, that it will lose its European-made military helicopters for American aircraft.

Rory Medcalf, dean of the National Security College at the Australian National University in Canberra, said Moon’s visit would help dispel the notion that Australia puts the “Anglosphere” more than its relations with its Asian counterparts.

“President Moon’s visit is a refreshing reminder that Australia has more and more intimate friends than the Aukus or Quad,” Medcalf said.

“It is a wonderful sign from South Korea that they recognize the partnership with Australia as their ally. We are all mediators, we are all fighting Chinese pressure and we are all open to US alliance and we want to improve.”