FED:Smith speaks with defence chief on China

AAP General News (Australia)
12-10-2010
FED:Smith speaks with defence chief on China

CANBERRA, Dec 10 AAP - Defence Minister Stephen Smith has confirmed he has spoken with
the chief of the Australian Defence Force about his views on China because of WikiLeaks.

Fairfax newspapers published cables on Friday showing Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston's
public views on Australia's major trading partner contrasted with the top brass of the
Department of Defence.

A defence white paper was released in May 2009, which recommended Australia build its
knowledge of China's security strategies.

Air Chief Marshal Houston made public comments suggesting China was not concerned.

But the then deputy secretary of the Defence Department, Mike Pezzullo, who co-ordinated
the white paper, expressed a difference of opinion in a private briefing to US officials,
the WikiLeaks cables say.

Defence Minister Stephen Smith said he spoke with Air Chief Marshal Houston on Friday.

"He advises me there's no reason why he would change any of the comments made on that
occasion nor do I see any reason," he told reporters in Perth.

Mr Smith said the white paper was not aimed at China.

"Australia has made it clear to China, both publicly and privately, that as China emerges
as a rising power, as a super power, we expect as a result of this economic expansion
there will also be a military expansion but we expect China to be transparent about the
strategic intent behind its military expansion," he said.

WikiLeaks has also released another cable from November 2009 which showed the Australian
special representative on Afghanistan and Pakistan, Ric Smith - a former secretary of
the Defence Department - delivering a bleak assessment of the war in Afghanistan.

"Smith had just returned from a visit to Oruzgan and described the mission in Afghanistan
and Afghan government presence as a 'wobbly three-legged stool'," the cable said.

Asked about this, Mr Smith said the Australian government regarded the Afghan mission
as "difficult and dangerous", and pointed out how he had criticised the international
community for previously being pre-occupied with Iraq.

"There has been no understatement, as far as the government is concerned, the difficulties,
or the dangers of the challenges in Afghanistan," he said.

AAP saj/jh

KEYWORD: WIKILEAKS SMITH

� 2010 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.