“It’s never been a good bet to bet against the United States”, Vice-President Joe Biden has proclaimed, making the case for U.S. economic and military supremacy to maintain the “rules-based global order” in the Pacific region amid ongoing tensions with China. “Most nations have characters strengthened by generation of courageous immigrants who arrived from somewhere else but their spirit and energy sustains and has sustained us and renewed us as nations, since our founding”, he said.
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He said the USA and New Zealand had a vested interest in ensuring continued growth, stability and economic prosperity through the region “and I think we are better equipped to do that when we stand side by side to advance our mutual interests”.
Vice President Joe Biden has met with Australia’s prime minister amid America’s continued push to boost its presence in the Asia-Pacific region.
Biden said both the U.S. and Australia were dealing with the legacies of racism and exclusion but would inexorably move forward.
Speaking to reporters after their talks in Sydney, Biden said they “reaffirmed our commitment to continue to work together to uphold the liberal worldwide order that has served the world so well for the past 75 years and to maintain the free flow of commerce and trade in the air and on sea, making sure the sea lanes are open and the skies are free for navigation”.
“We mean what we say when we say we’re rebalancing to the Pacific”.
“It’s not what we can do for Australia, it is what we can do with Australia”.
Another focus has been on cancer research.
The temporary restricted airspace, also known as “no-fly-zone”, will be in place from Wednesday evening until Thursday afternoon. The vice president is on a four day visit to Australia. “We’ve been willing to stand up for our values, make the changes we wish to see in the world a reality”.
Biden spent much of his time in Australia reiterating the importance of the Australian-U.S. relationship in America’s military pivot to Asia.
Mr Biden paid tribute to the work of former prime ministers Bob Hawke, John Howard and Tony Abbott – who were all in the front row – for their work in making the Australia-US relationship stronger than ever.
United States Vice President Joe Biden has flown into Auckland tonight reaffirming the message that his country is a Pacific power and saying he’s made that clear to China’s leaders.
“That is who we are”.
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In other developments, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Defence Minister Marise Payne are heading for Washington, where they will represent Australia at a meeting of defence and foreign ministers of Coalition countries fighting ISIS in Iraq.
Ms Bishop will announce another $15 million in humanitarian assistance for Iraq.
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“That’s just a fact because if you don’t you’re going to be left behind”.
