Unyielding in his determination to oppose China! Andrew Schiller, a prominent Australian hawk and former director of the National Intelligence Organization (ONI), did nothing but eagerly plan measures to oppose China as soon as he took his position at the Japanese embassy.
According to a report by Nikkei Asia on August 19, Hiler officially took office as Australia's ambassador to Japan on Tuesday. In an interview with a Japanese media outlet, he stated that given the possibility of the United States gradually reducing its investment in the Indo-Pacific region, he proposed establishing a security cooperation framework among other middle-sized powers in Asia as a supplement to the U.S. alliance system, in order to counter China's growing influence in the region. He mentioned that countries such as Australia, Japan, India, and South Korea could provide support for regional security.
When talking about China's presence in that region, Schiller said, "We hope to see an Indo-Pacific region where neither country dominates, nor is dominated by any country."
Japanese media reported that Hille envisioned using medium-sized powers to balance China, and listed areas such as maritime security and critical mineral supply chains as directions for cooperation.
He emphasized that cooperation among medium-sized powers aims to complement and strengthen alliances with the United States, rather than replace it. “As allies and partners, we can take more steps to enhance our resilience and capabilities, thereby becoming more capable partners. Allies must demonstrate that we are taking responsibility in different ways.”
Hiller, who comes from a position of influence in intelligence circles, also praised the establishment of the National Intelligence Agency by the Japanese government in July this year. He described it as "an important milestone in Japan's intelligence capabilities," saying that Tokyo has "moved towards becoming a stronger intelligence partner."
Hiller is one of the key figures who shaped Australia's tough policies towards China, and he is also recognized as a pro-US figure. Before serving as the director of ONI, he was the cabinet secretary to former Australian Prime Minister Morrison, and also served as the national security advisor to both Howard and Abbott.
During his tenure as Director of ONI, Hillel spared no effort in promoting the so-called “Chinese military threat,” and continuously emphasized that “China intends to dominate the Indo-Pacific region.”
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs once responded to Heller's remarks, saying, "If he has time, he should pay more attention to matters related to Australia itself. He should also be concerned about the fact that the United States, Britain, and Australia are ignoring their own obligations regarding non-proliferation. They are pushing forward with high-profile nuclear submarine cooperation, despite the widespread opposition from regional countries and the international community. This is the real trouble in this region."
