Former PM Paul Keating has hit back at leading US Democrat Nancy Pelosi after she skewered his description of Taiwan as “Chinese real estate”.

“You don’t want to get my description of him for saying that,” Pelosi told ABC TV’s 7.30 on Monday.

“That’s ridiculous. It’s not Chinese real estate and he should know that. Taiwan is Taiwan and it is the people of Taiwan who have a democracy there.

“I have no idea about Keating, but I think that it was a stupid statement to make. And I don’t know what his connection is to China that he would say such a thing, but it is really not in the security interest of the Asia-Pacific region for people to talk that way.”

It follows a 7.30 interview with Keating last week on the AUKUS agreement, in which he accused the Albanese government of being a defence “sellout”, while defending Chinese interests in Taiwan.

“In defence and foreign policy, this is not a Labor government,” he said.

“This is a party which has adopted the defence and foreign policies of the Morrison Liberal government.

“This is a sellout.”

Keating is a long-standing critic of the trilateral defence agreement between the US, Britain and Australia, brokered by former prime minister Scott Morrison. He described it as the “worst deal in all history” in an address to the National Press Club in 2023.

Taiwanese officials last week blasted Keating’s comments as “incorrect and dangerously misleading”.

On Tuesday, Keating hit back at Pelosi. He described her 2022 visit to the disputed island as “recklessly indulgent”, saying it “very nearly brought the US and China to a military confrontation – for the first time since the Second World War”.

“Both the US and Australia subscribe to the ‘One China’ policy and have done so since president [Richard] Nixon and Chairman Mao met in 1972 to put the policy into place,” he said.

“And both our countries believe it is in no one’s interest for Taiwan to be subject of some sort of violent takeover.

“That said, I make this clear. In public comment, I represent the national interests of Australia, not the national interests of the US, nor indeed the interests of Taiwan.

“I have remarked a number of times that the so-called democratic choices by Taiwan are not central or interests vital to Australia any more than, say, the absence of democratic forms in countries like Cambodia or Laos are vital to Australia.”

Keating also criticised the ABC, saying it would “do better to represent Australian strategic interests … rather than being excited by sensationalist comment from a person who shares not a jot of identity with Australian national interests”.

AUKUS deal moves closer

In the US last week, Defence Minister Richard Marles agreed to allow the transfer of US and British naval nuclear material to Australia.

AUKUS also provides for more rotations of US troops to the region – another point of Keating criticism.

“What he said made me cringe … it will make any Labor person cringe,” Keating said last week.

“There’ll be American force posture now in Australia, involving every domain.

“This government has sold out to the United States … The Prime Minister gets the dinners on the White House lawn … [and] these turkeys all fall for it.”

In the face of increasing tension over Taiwan, Keating also described the island as “Chinese real estate”.

“What this is all about is the Chinese laying claim to Taiwan, and the Americans are going to say ‘no, no, we’re going to keep these Taiwanese people protected’, even though they’re sitting on Chinese real estate,” he said.

On Monday, the government tabled documents in Parliament that set out the agreed legal framework for transferring nuclear materials and equipment to Australia under the $368 billion AUKUS deal.

Marles said the three nations had reached “another significant AUKUS milestone”.

“It builds on the significant progress that has already been achieved, including the passing of the US National Defence Authorisation Act, the announcement of Australia’s sovereign submarine build and sustainment partners, and the ongoing work to integrate and uplift the industrial bases of all three AUKUS partners,” he said.

This week Australia, the US and the UK reached another significant milestone, with the signing of a foundational agreement to enable further cooperation under AUKUS.

This agreement underpins and is consistent with the AUKUS pathway announced in March 2023.

🇦🇺🇺🇸🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/D1Xnnh5ou1

— Richard Marles (@RichardMarlesMP) August 9, 2024

The agreement, which will remain in force until 2075, says the AUKUS deal shouldn’t adversely affect the ability of the US and Britain to “meet their respective military requirements and to not degrade their respective naval nuclear propulsion programs”.

“Any party may terminate the agreement … by giving at least one year’s written notice to the other parties,” it reads.

Under the updated agreement, Australia will indemnify the US and Britain from any “liability, loss, costs, damage, or injury (including third-party claims)” arising from nuclear risks related to the program.

The legal protection won’t apply in relation to a conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine that has been in service with the US Navy “until such time as it is transferred to Australia”.

Under the AUKUS deal, the US will sell at least three and up to five Virginia-class submarines in the early 2030s. The sales will be subject to approval.

-with AAP