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| US forges security partnership with UK and Australia to counter China – live | US forges security partnership with UK and Australia to counter China – live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Biden joins PMs of UK and Australia for rare joint virtual address | Biden joins PMs of UK and Australia for rare joint virtual address |
| Lloyd Green writes: | |
| Read more: | |
| The formation of Aukus comes at a time of rising tensions, especially over the South China Sea and Taiwan. A new book about the last weeks of the Donald Trump administration said that in late 2020 the US became concerned that China was increasingly convinced it would be the target of a pre-emptive attack. | The formation of Aukus comes at a time of rising tensions, especially over the South China Sea and Taiwan. A new book about the last weeks of the Donald Trump administration said that in late 2020 the US became concerned that China was increasingly convinced it would be the target of a pre-emptive attack. |
| According to Peril, by Washington Post journalists Bob Woodward and Robert Costa, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, Gen Mark Milley called his Chinese counterpart, Gen Li Zuocheng, twice to reassure him that no attack would happen, and that Milley would personally give a warning if Trump issued such an order. | According to Peril, by Washington Post journalists Bob Woodward and Robert Costa, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, Gen Mark Milley called his Chinese counterpart, Gen Li Zuocheng, twice to reassure him that no attack would happen, and that Milley would personally give a warning if Trump issued such an order. |
| In July, the UK’s new aircraft carrier, the Queen Elizabeth, arrived in the South China Sea, the focal point of US-Chinese tensions, triggering denunciations from Beijing. The US defence secretary, Lloyd Austin, welcomed the deployment at the time but wondered “are there areas that the UK can be more helpful in other parts of the world”. | In July, the UK’s new aircraft carrier, the Queen Elizabeth, arrived in the South China Sea, the focal point of US-Chinese tensions, triggering denunciations from Beijing. The US defence secretary, Lloyd Austin, welcomed the deployment at the time but wondered “are there areas that the UK can be more helpful in other parts of the world”. |
| A senior US official suggested that the UK government had pushed for a heightened role in the region. | A senior US official suggested that the UK government had pushed for a heightened role in the region. |
| “Great Britain is very focused on the concept of global Britain, and their tilt is about engaging much more deeply with the Indo-Pacific and this is a down payment on that effort,” the official said. | “Great Britain is very focused on the concept of global Britain, and their tilt is about engaging much more deeply with the Indo-Pacific and this is a down payment on that effort,” the official said. |
| Before now, the US has only shared nuclear propulsion technology with the UK, in an arrangement dating back to the 1958, but a senior US official said “This is a unique set of circumstances.” | Before now, the US has only shared nuclear propulsion technology with the UK, in an arrangement dating back to the 1958, but a senior US official said “This is a unique set of circumstances.” |
| Nuclear power will allow Australian attack submarines to remain at sea for as long as five months and operate more quietly than the country’s existing Collins class diesel powered vessels, allowing them to better evade enemy detection. | Nuclear power will allow Australian attack submarines to remain at sea for as long as five months and operate more quietly than the country’s existing Collins class diesel powered vessels, allowing them to better evade enemy detection. |
| Senior US officials briefing reporters before the announcement did not mention China, preferring to speak generally about “sustaining and improving deterrence”, but left little doubt which power Aukus was supposed to deter. British officials used similar language, arguing the deal was “not about one country”. | Senior US officials briefing reporters before the announcement did not mention China, preferring to speak generally about “sustaining and improving deterrence”, but left little doubt which power Aukus was supposed to deter. British officials used similar language, arguing the deal was “not about one country”. |
| Biden joined the Australian prime minister, Scott Morrison, and British prime minister, Boris Johnson, for a rare joint virtual address to announce the partnership. It will make it easier for the countries to share information and technology and counter China, including by helping Australia to build nuclear-powered submarines. | Biden joined the Australian prime minister, Scott Morrison, and British prime minister, Boris Johnson, for a rare joint virtual address to announce the partnership. It will make it easier for the countries to share information and technology and counter China, including by helping Australia to build nuclear-powered submarines. |
| Read more about it here: | Read more about it here: |
| That’s it from me today. My west coast colleague, Maanvi Singh, will take over the blog for the next few hours. | That’s it from me today. My west coast colleague, Maanvi Singh, will take over the blog for the next few hours. |
| Here’s where the day stands so far: | Here’s where the day stands so far: |
| Joe Biden said he still has “great confidence” in Gen Mark Milley, amid Republican criticism of the general’s actions in the final days of Donald Trump’s presidency. According to Bob Woodward and Robert Costa’s new book, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff took steps to prevent Trump from starting a nuclear war or launching an attack on China during his final days in office. Asked about Republican calls for Milley’s resignation, press secretary Jen Psaki said, “I don’t think the president is looking for the guidance of members of Congress who stood by while the president of the United States and the leader of their party fomented an insurrection and many of them were silent.” | Joe Biden said he still has “great confidence” in Gen Mark Milley, amid Republican criticism of the general’s actions in the final days of Donald Trump’s presidency. According to Bob Woodward and Robert Costa’s new book, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff took steps to prevent Trump from starting a nuclear war or launching an attack on China during his final days in office. Asked about Republican calls for Milley’s resignation, press secretary Jen Psaki said, “I don’t think the president is looking for the guidance of members of Congress who stood by while the president of the United States and the leader of their party fomented an insurrection and many of them were silent.” |
| Biden congratulated California governor Gavin Newsom on easily defeating an effort to remove him from office. With about 70% of ballots from yesterday’s election counted, only 36% of California voters supported recalling Newsom, well short of the 50% needed to remove the governor from his post. Biden said of Newsom’s victory, “This vote is a resounding win for the approach he and I share to beating the pandemic: strong vaccine requirements, strong steps to reopen schools safely and strong plans to distribute real medicines - not fake treatments - to help those who get sick.” | Biden congratulated California governor Gavin Newsom on easily defeating an effort to remove him from office. With about 70% of ballots from yesterday’s election counted, only 36% of California voters supported recalling Newsom, well short of the 50% needed to remove the governor from his post. Biden said of Newsom’s victory, “This vote is a resounding win for the approach he and I share to beating the pandemic: strong vaccine requirements, strong steps to reopen schools safely and strong plans to distribute real medicines - not fake treatments - to help those who get sick.” |
| Celebrated gymnasts Simone Biles, McKayla Maroney, Maggie Nichols and Aly Raisman testified before the Senate judiciary committee on the FBI’s failings to properly investigate sexual abuse allegations against Larry Nassar. Getting emotional while delivering her opening statement, Biles told members of the committee, “To be clear, I blame Larry Nassar and I also blame an entire system that enabled and perpetrated his abuse.” | Celebrated gymnasts Simone Biles, McKayla Maroney, Maggie Nichols and Aly Raisman testified before the Senate judiciary committee on the FBI’s failings to properly investigate sexual abuse allegations against Larry Nassar. Getting emotional while delivering her opening statement, Biles told members of the committee, “To be clear, I blame Larry Nassar and I also blame an entire system that enabled and perpetrated his abuse.” |
| Kamala Harris and treasury secretary Janet Yellen held an event to underscore the urgent need to expand affordable childcare options in the US. The event came as the treasury department released a report showing that childcare providers remain too expensive for average American families and fail to adequately compensate their workers. “We must do better,” Harris said. | Kamala Harris and treasury secretary Janet Yellen held an event to underscore the urgent need to expand affordable childcare options in the US. The event came as the treasury department released a report showing that childcare providers remain too expensive for average American families and fail to adequately compensate their workers. “We must do better,” Harris said. |
| Maanvi will have more coming up, so stay tuned. | Maanvi will have more coming up, so stay tuned. |
| Vice-President Kamala Harris argued that investing in affordable childcare was absolutely necessary to help women re-enter the workforce, after millions of women left their jobs during the pandemic because of caretaking responsibilities. | Vice-President Kamala Harris argued that investing in affordable childcare was absolutely necessary to help women re-enter the workforce, after millions of women left their jobs during the pandemic because of caretaking responsibilities. |
| “Not long after President Joe Biden and I took office, I called the mass exodus of women from the workforce a national emergency. Because that’s what it is: a national emergency,” Harris said at the treasury department. | “Not long after President Joe Biden and I took office, I called the mass exodus of women from the workforce a national emergency. Because that’s what it is: a national emergency,” Harris said at the treasury department. |
| “If we intend to fully recover from the pandemic, if we intend to fully compete on a global scale, we must ensure the full participation of women in the workforce.” | “If we intend to fully recover from the pandemic, if we intend to fully compete on a global scale, we must ensure the full participation of women in the workforce.” |
| Harris said the treasury department’s new report provided the latest evidence that childcare is “too expensive and out of reach for far too many working families in our country”. | Harris said the treasury department’s new report provided the latest evidence that childcare is “too expensive and out of reach for far too many working families in our country”. |
| “We must do better,” Harris said. “By expanding childcare options and lowering childcare costs, we will give working people everywhere the support they need to dream, to do, and to determine their own future.” | “We must do better,” Harris said. “By expanding childcare options and lowering childcare costs, we will give working people everywhere the support they need to dream, to do, and to determine their own future.” |
| Kamala Harris and treasury secretary Janet Yellen are holding an event at the treasury department to underscore the need to expand access to affordable childcare in the US. | Kamala Harris and treasury secretary Janet Yellen are holding an event at the treasury department to underscore the need to expand access to affordable childcare in the US. |
| The event is meant to bring attention to the treasury department’s new report on the state of American childcare, which found that current childcare options are too expensive for average families and fail to adequately compensate workers. | The event is meant to bring attention to the treasury department’s new report on the state of American childcare, which found that current childcare options are too expensive for average families and fail to adequately compensate workers. |
| Yellen, who is the first woman to lead the treasury department, said that her own career was made possible through her access to reliable childcare. | Yellen, who is the first woman to lead the treasury department, said that her own career was made possible through her access to reliable childcare. |
| “The lack of childcare leads so many parents, mostly mothers, to drop out of the workforce,” Yellen said. “Indeed looking back, I’m not sure whether I would be here in this job today if I didn’t have an excellent babysitter 40 years ago.” | “The lack of childcare leads so many parents, mostly mothers, to drop out of the workforce,” Yellen said. “Indeed looking back, I’m not sure whether I would be here in this job today if I didn’t have an excellent babysitter 40 years ago.” |
| Joe Biden has called for expanding affordable childcare options through Democrats’ $3.5tn reconciliation bill, which is currently making its way through Congress. | Joe Biden has called for expanding affordable childcare options through Democrats’ $3.5tn reconciliation bill, which is currently making its way through Congress. |
| Users of far-right online platforms appear to have waning interest in this Saturday’s “Justice for J6” rally, which is being held in support of the insurrectionists who carried out the January attack on the Capitol. | Users of far-right online platforms appear to have waning interest in this Saturday’s “Justice for J6” rally, which is being held in support of the insurrectionists who carried out the January attack on the Capitol. |
| NBC News reports: | NBC News reports: |
| A senior official at the Department of Homeland Security said yesterday that the agency expects around 700 people to come to Washington for the rally on Saturday. | A senior official at the Department of Homeland Security said yesterday that the agency expects around 700 people to come to Washington for the rally on Saturday. |
| In comparison, tens of thousands of people came to DC to participate in the January 6 rally that culminated in the deadly insurrection. | In comparison, tens of thousands of people came to DC to participate in the January 6 rally that culminated in the deadly insurrection. |
| Even with those encouraging signs, the US Capitol police have approved a wide range of increased security measures around the Capitol, including reinstalling the fencing around the building. | Even with those encouraging signs, the US Capitol police have approved a wide range of increased security measures around the Capitol, including reinstalling the fencing around the building. |
| California governor Gavin Newsom’s victory in the recall election secures his ability to run for re-election in 2022, potentially warding off any major challengers, and preserves his place as a national political figure. | California governor Gavin Newsom’s victory in the recall election secures his ability to run for re-election in 2022, potentially warding off any major challengers, and preserves his place as a national political figure. |
| “Now he wins this, he wins again in 2022 and now we’re all on to 2024 and beyond and he becomes a viable presidential candidate,” said Jack Citrin, a political science professor at UC Berkeley. “Every crisis is also an opportunity.” | “Now he wins this, he wins again in 2022 and now we’re all on to 2024 and beyond and he becomes a viable presidential candidate,” said Jack Citrin, a political science professor at UC Berkeley. “Every crisis is also an opportunity.” |
| Having survived the recall, Newsom will serve one more year before he is up for re-election. “If he had survived by a small margin, it is very likely another Democrat would have run against him from the left next year,” Schnur said. “But given a landslide like this one, it’s very hard to see that happening.” | Having survived the recall, Newsom will serve one more year before he is up for re-election. “If he had survived by a small margin, it is very likely another Democrat would have run against him from the left next year,” Schnur said. “But given a landslide like this one, it’s very hard to see that happening.” |
| With a little more than a year left in his term, Citrin expects Newsom will avoid “self-inflicted wounds” such as his ill-fated visit to the Michelin-starred French Laundry restaurant during the state’s Covid surge last fall, and make a greater effort to connect with Latino voters. | With a little more than a year left in his term, Citrin expects Newsom will avoid “self-inflicted wounds” such as his ill-fated visit to the Michelin-starred French Laundry restaurant during the state’s Covid surge last fall, and make a greater effort to connect with Latino voters. |
| “There has been some sense in this campaign that he has not had a strong a following among Latino voters as you would want given the growing political and electoral power of Latinos.” | “There has been some sense in this campaign that he has not had a strong a following among Latino voters as you would want given the growing political and electoral power of Latinos.” |
| The White House has dismissed Republican criticism of Gen Mark Milley, arguing the chairman’s reported actions were understandable given that he was working with Donald Trump, who had incited a deadly insurrection at the US Capitol. | The White House has dismissed Republican criticism of Gen Mark Milley, arguing the chairman’s reported actions were understandable given that he was working with Donald Trump, who had incited a deadly insurrection at the US Capitol. |
| “This current president, who follows the constitution, who’s not fomenting an insurrection, who follows the rule of law, has complete confidence in Chairman Milley and him continuing to serve in his role,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said this afternoon. | “This current president, who follows the constitution, who’s not fomenting an insurrection, who follows the rule of law, has complete confidence in Chairman Milley and him continuing to serve in his role,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said this afternoon. |
| “I don’t think the president is looking for the guidance of members of Congress who stood by while the president of the United States and the leader of their party fomented an insurrection and many of them were silent.” | “I don’t think the president is looking for the guidance of members of Congress who stood by while the president of the United States and the leader of their party fomented an insurrection and many of them were silent.” |
| Joe Biden’s comments about Gen Mark Milley come as some Republicans have called on the president to fire the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff over his reported efforts to put guardrails on Donald Trump’s behavior during his final days in office. | Joe Biden’s comments about Gen Mark Milley come as some Republicans have called on the president to fire the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff over his reported efforts to put guardrails on Donald Trump’s behavior during his final days in office. |
| Marco Rubio, the top Republican on the Senate intelligence committee, sent Biden a letter arguing that Milley’s reported actions represented “a treasonous leak of classified information to the Chinese Communist Party”. | Marco Rubio, the top Republican on the Senate intelligence committee, sent Biden a letter arguing that Milley’s reported actions represented “a treasonous leak of classified information to the Chinese Communist Party”. |
| “You must immediately dismiss General Milley,” Rubio told Biden. “America’s national security and ability to lead in the world are at stake.” | “You must immediately dismiss General Milley,” Rubio told Biden. “America’s national security and ability to lead in the world are at stake.” |