By Reuters
SYDNEY: Australia will not commit troops in advance to any conflict, Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said on Sunday, responding to a report that the Pentagon has pressed its ally to clarify what role it would play if the US and China went to war over Taiwan.
Australia prioritises its sovereignty and 鈥渨e don鈥檛 discuss hypotheticals鈥, Conroy said in an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
鈥淭he decision to commit Australian troops to a conflict will be made by the government of the day, not in advance but by the government of the day,鈥 he said.
The Financial Times reported on Saturday that Elbridge Colby, the US under-secretary of defence for policy, has been pressing Australian and Japanese officials on what they would do in a Taiwan conflict, although the US does not offer a blank cheque guarantee to defend Taiwan.
Colby posted on X that the Department of Defense is implementing President Donald Trump鈥檚 鈥淎merica First鈥 agenda of restoring deterrence, which includes 鈥渦rging a