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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/apr/25/trumps-pick-for-us-ambassador-to-australia-to-be-sent-to-south-korea
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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Trump's pick for US ambassador to Australia to be sent to South Korea | Trump's pick for US ambassador to Australia to be sent to South Korea |
| (about 2 months later) | |
| The Trump administration has decided to redirect its pick for ambassador to Australia, Admiral Harry Harris, to instead represent the United States in South Korea. | The Trump administration has decided to redirect its pick for ambassador to Australia, Admiral Harry Harris, to instead represent the United States in South Korea. |
| Experts say the surprise move sends a “terrible” message to Australia, which has been waiting more than a year for a new US ambassador. | Experts say the surprise move sends a “terrible” message to Australia, which has been waiting more than a year for a new US ambassador. |
| The foreign affairs minister, Julie Bishop, has played down suggestions it amounts to a slight against Australia but Labor has said it is “disappointing” the post has been vacant for so long. | The foreign affairs minister, Julie Bishop, has played down suggestions it amounts to a slight against Australia but Labor has said it is “disappointing” the post has been vacant for so long. |
| Harris, the head of the US Pacific command, was due to attend a nomination hearing on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, but it was unexpectedly postponed. | Harris, the head of the US Pacific command, was due to attend a nomination hearing on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, but it was unexpectedly postponed. |
| North Korea: Trump says he will leave Kim summit if it isn't 'fruitful' | North Korea: Trump says he will leave Kim summit if it isn't 'fruitful' |
| A senior White House official told the Washington Post that the administration now plans to renominate Harris as US envoy to South Korea and Harris reportedly intends to accept. | A senior White House official told the Washington Post that the administration now plans to renominate Harris as US envoy to South Korea and Harris reportedly intends to accept. |
| During his own confirmation hearing to become secretary of state, the former CIA director Mike Pompeo had promised to fill the role of US ambassador to South Korea quickly. | During his own confirmation hearing to become secretary of state, the former CIA director Mike Pompeo had promised to fill the role of US ambassador to South Korea quickly. |
| The South Korea vacancy is seen as urgent given the high-stakes negotiations with North Korea, which will include Donald Trump personally meeting the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un. Pompeo met Kim Jong-un over Easter to prepare for the historic summit in coming weeks. | The South Korea vacancy is seen as urgent given the high-stakes negotiations with North Korea, which will include Donald Trump personally meeting the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un. Pompeo met Kim Jong-un over Easter to prepare for the historic summit in coming weeks. |
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| Andrew Shearer, a senior policy adviser for the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, told the ABC’s AM program it would be “hard to escape a bit of a sense that Australia is being treated here as a second-class ally”. | Andrew Shearer, a senior policy adviser for the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, told the ABC’s AM program it would be “hard to escape a bit of a sense that Australia is being treated here as a second-class ally”. |
| “I think that’s regrettable,” he said. “Australia really though is, if you like, a collateral casualty to the shambolic personnel practices of the Trump administration. | “I think that’s regrettable,” he said. “Australia really though is, if you like, a collateral casualty to the shambolic personnel practices of the Trump administration. |
| “I don’t think there’s anything sinister to it – I think it’s much more typical of the ad hoc moment-to-moment decision-making of this administration.” | “I don’t think there’s anything sinister to it – I think it’s much more typical of the ad hoc moment-to-moment decision-making of this administration.” |
| A senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, Thomas Wright, told Fairfax Media the backflip sent a “terrible” and “unfortunate” message because it suggested Australia “is not a priority”. | A senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, Thomas Wright, told Fairfax Media the backflip sent a “terrible” and “unfortunate” message because it suggested Australia “is not a priority”. |
| “They need to make sure they appoint someone of similar stature and ability to Harris now, not just a donor or a friend of Donald Trump’s,” he is quoted as saying. | “They need to make sure they appoint someone of similar stature and ability to Harris now, not just a donor or a friend of Donald Trump’s,” he is quoted as saying. |
| On Wednesday Bishop responded that the Australian government understands Harris “will be required in another post ... but we look forward to a new ambassador being nominated as soon as possible”. | On Wednesday Bishop responded that the Australian government understands Harris “will be required in another post ... but we look forward to a new ambassador being nominated as soon as possible”. |
| Bishop told reporters in Sydney that Australia understands the challenges on the Korean peninsula, adding that it was warned of the plan to redirect Harris in a bid to defuse suggestions the move had caused tensions with the US. | Bishop told reporters in Sydney that Australia understands the challenges on the Korean peninsula, adding that it was warned of the plan to redirect Harris in a bid to defuse suggestions the move had caused tensions with the US. |
| Labor’s foreign affairs spokeswoman, Penny Wong, said the party recognises “how important the South Korea post is to regional security given the risk presented by North Korea”. | Labor’s foreign affairs spokeswoman, Penny Wong, said the party recognises “how important the South Korea post is to regional security given the risk presented by North Korea”. |
| “It is disappointing that despite the close ties between our two countries, the post of US ambassador to Australia has now been left vacant for 19 months,” she said in a statement. | “It is disappointing that despite the close ties between our two countries, the post of US ambassador to Australia has now been left vacant for 19 months,” she said in a statement. |
| “Admiral Harris is a distinguished and highly decorated naval officer with extensive knowledge and experience of our region and Labor warmly welcomed his nomination. | “Admiral Harris is a distinguished and highly decorated naval officer with extensive knowledge and experience of our region and Labor warmly welcomed his nomination. |
| “We hope the government expresses to the United States the importance of this appointment being resolved soon.” | “We hope the government expresses to the United States the importance of this appointment being resolved soon.” |
| A congressional aide told the Washington Post that the ambassador positions in Canberra and Seoul were both “critical posts”. | A congressional aide told the Washington Post that the ambassador positions in Canberra and Seoul were both “critical posts”. |
| “And while Admiral Harris would be a capable, talented and effective nominee for either post, the process by which the administration has handled the nominations for our ambassadors to Korea and now Australia … risks doing grave damage to vital alliance relationships and US posture and standing throughout the region.” | “And while Admiral Harris would be a capable, talented and effective nominee for either post, the process by which the administration has handled the nominations for our ambassadors to Korea and now Australia … risks doing grave damage to vital alliance relationships and US posture and standing throughout the region.” |
| When the Trump administration nominated Harris as Australian ambassador in February it was warmly welcomed by the Turnbull government. | When the Trump administration nominated Harris as Australian ambassador in February it was warmly welcomed by the Turnbull government. |
| Great to see Admiral Harry Harris nominated by @realDonaldTrump as US Ambassador to Australia. Look forward to seeing you in Canberra, Harry! pic.twitter.com/YHvu1NQ4BN | Great to see Admiral Harry Harris nominated by @realDonaldTrump as US Ambassador to Australia. Look forward to seeing you in Canberra, Harry! pic.twitter.com/YHvu1NQ4BN |
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