US military commander has ‘no idea’ how Australia’s Aukus submarines would be used in any Taiwan Strait dispute

Lt Gen Stephen Sklenka denies any expectation on Australia despite a top official predicting the pact would change how ‘our countries operate together’

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A US military commander says he has “no idea” how Australia’s nuclear-powered submarines will be used in the Taiwan Strait, despite a top state department official predicting “enormous implications” for “cross-Strait circumstances”.

Lt Gen Stephen Sklenka, the deputy commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, played down the potential for Australia to be drawn into a devastating war in the region against the Australian government’s wishes.

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