Alternative News Romina Beitseen and Andrew Irving

Transcript:Neutrality would keep us out of a U.S.-China warANDREW 1: Good morning listeners. My name’s Andrew and with me is Bevan Ramsden. We’re from IPAN, the Independent and Peaceful Australian Network. In this edition of Alternative News we examine neutrality as an alternative Australian foreign policy in the light of recent surveys which show that a clear majority of Australians are in favour of Australia remaining neutral in the event of war between the U.S. and China. We have discussed neutrality in a previous program but are re-visiting the subject in the light of Bevan Ramsden’s recent participation in an International Conference on Neutrality. This Congress had the theme of ‘Neutrality – a Strategy for Global Stabilisation’. Bevan, give us the background to this conference.BEVAN 1: The Congress was held in Bogota, the capital of Colombia. It is situated in the Andes on a plateau 2,500 metres above sea level. Bogota is home to 12 million people in a country with a population of 50 million. The primary organisers of the Congress were World Beyond War and the International Peace Bureau. The two- day Congress involved 50 speakers from 25 countries on 5 continents. Some of the presentations from distant countries were made over the internet but most were in person.The Congress was held in a venue within the Republic of Colombia’s Congress Building, which houses the Colombian Parliament. We were addressed by four Senators at the opening breakfast meeting within the Congress Building. I was present as the IPAN representative and was the only representative from Australia.ANDREW 2: I understand that the Vice President of Colombia took part in the conference.BEVAN 2: Yes, on the second day we met with the Colombian Vice President, Francia Marquez, who spoke to us about her position on neutrality and we all shook hands with her at the end of her speech. Whilst she endorsed the Congress’ aim of formulating a strategy for ensuring peace world-wide, she raised some criticism of neutrality as such, as did several others at the Congress. The particular criticism deserves our attention because IPAN has endorsed the principle of “non-nuclear armed neutrality” in our vision for an alternative defence for an independent Australia.The concern is that neutrality could be taken to mean “isolationism”; “washing ones hands of world problems”; “turning ones back on injustices in the world” etc. Vice President Marquez said we cannot turn our backs on the suffering of the people in Gaza, for example.ANDREW 3: You say this discussion has implications for IPAN and its policies. Can you explain why this is so?BEVAN 3: It has implications for IPAN because we have proposed an alternative defence policy for Australia based on the concept of non-nuclear armed neutrality. Listening to the Vice President and other speakers at the Congress, it became clear to me that we need to carefully elaborate and explain exactly what we mean by neutrality. We certainly would not favour an isolationist approach.To be of any value to the Australian people, a policy of neutrality would have to involve positive engagement with the countries in our region and beyond and the taking of a stand on the side of peace and justice. For example, in relation to Gaza, a neutral Australia would not become involved militarily but would use all available diplomatic and economic measures to oppose Israeli Zionist genocide, and bring about a permanent ceasefire and secure a safe and peaceful future for the Palestinian and Israeli people. ANDREW 4: Some listeners may not have heard about this alternative defence policy which IPAN has formulated. Can you provide some details?BEVAN 4:  IPAN’s alternative defence policy is based on non-nuclear armed neutrality and emphasizes diplomacy as the first option in the resolution of conflict between states. The ADF would be reconfigured for, and confined to, defence of Australian territory and its surrounding

This show contains excerpts from speeches and music which were part of the International Solidarity May Day event which was held on Thursday 2nd May, 2024 at Trades Hall.Featuring performances from:Advanced League of People's Artists (ALPA). (facebook)Victorian Trade Union Choir (website)

In today’s CICD Alternative News, Bevan Ramsden and Andrew Fullerton from IPAN will examine the Albanese ALP Government’s policy of enmeshing us even more tightly in the US war machine, a policy which, in the event of a US war on China, will place us in grave danger of retaliatory strikes and is proceeding despite the fact that Australia faces no military threat.  They also will look at the AUSMIN 2023 talks which took place a few weeks ago between Australia’s Defence Minister Richard Marles, Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong and their US counterparts, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin.

A. Fullerton and B. Ramsden (IPAN) "seek to counter the misinformation and war mongering hysteria emanating from the corporate media and certain politicians in which China is portrayed as a military threat, and which seeks to build public support for a war to weaken China economically, and maintain US economic and military dominance in the region and worldwide."The show contains a history of the China-Taiwan situation since the end of WW2. The show covers USA's and Australia's policy and some context."The Australian Government does not recognize the ROC [Republic of China, i.e. Taiwan] as a sovereign state, and does not regard the authorities in Taiwan as having the status of a national government. Dealings between Australia and Taiwan therefore, take place unofficially. [...] Despite this, successive governments have supported the US policy of containing and confronting China in the South China Sea and elsewhere."

The QUAD summit scheduled in Sydney on 24 May was cancelled due to the last minute announcement that US president Biden will not be attending. AUKUS: The Australian Anti-AUKUS Coalition calls on the Australian government to withdraw from any future Quad meetings and will oppose any future meetings of the QUAD in Australia.Labour, Greens & Defence Experts have published and open letter calling for an AUKUS Parliamentary Inquiry.The White house responded to the threat of imminent defeat of UKRAINE.Stella Assange addressed the National Press Club in Canberra.