politics

German submarine builder warns Australia of risk of awarding contract to Japan

42 Comments
By ROD McGUIRK

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42 Comments
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"A German executive vying for a lucrative Australian submarine contract on Thursday said that awarding the contract to Japan could damage Australia’s relationship with China"

LOL. Someone needs to tell Hans that Australia planning on more submarines alone, regardless of where they're from, is already damaging Australia's relationship with China.

10 ( +18 / -8 )

The argument doesn't make sense. Australia's decision should be based on what is best for it, not what is best for China.

10 ( +11 / -2 )

Are Germany saying that Australia should give Japan Das Boot?

8 ( +12 / -4 )

I read on some American defence blog that that Japanese ninja "Soryu" subs are crazy effective in US Japanese naval exercises, due to their seabed hugging ultra-silent stealth capabilities thanks to Japanese engineering and the quiet cooperation of their crews.

7 ( +13 / -6 )

Australia is a sovereign state and we will decide on matters of national security without interference of other nations...

Pretty sure that's what the Chinese would say..

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Bit of a cheap shot by the German guy, although there is some truth in it.

Bottom line is ALL of the Far East & SE Asia is on a collision course with China ALREADY! So in the end for Australia it wont make much difference in the long term, only the short term

6 ( +7 / -1 )

soryu has been operational for years while the other two are still on paper, more or less. Germany has great experience in sub export but none of their customers required blue water operations which is what Australia need. They were definitely not prepared for this contract.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

A case of sour submarines, I think.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

The German Thyssen Group Submarine System also had a conflict with its Swedish state partner Kockum Submarine System, so it was expelled from the cooperation. The Thyssen group seems aggressive in business but competition should be free. May the best win in fair play and quality competition.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

A German executive vying for a lucrative Australian submarine contract on Thursday said that awarding the contract to Japan could damage Australia’s relationship with China.

He's right. It's not going to do much good to Sino-Japanese relations either.

4 ( +13 / -9 )

yeah, so big bullies dictate everything eh.

4 ( +10 / -6 )

Pick a side already. America needs us all to fight in their future wars.

4 ( +13 / -9 )

It's not what I thought about Germany,but after BMW scandal and Syria refugee crisis, I see Germany is going downturn.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

So actually, he doesn't have much to offer in the way of technology, and that is why he is going at this from a political angle. Sad, sad, sad. Japanese tech left German tech in the dust decades ago. China knows how much it depends on Japanese tech. They are not that stupid as the Germans seem to think.

3 ( +15 / -12 )

@harry gatto

Are Germany saying that Australia should give Japan Das Boot?

You sir are a genius!!

3 ( +4 / -1 )

HAaa ahaaa haaa hahaaha hahhaaa haaa.

Black Sabbath - If you don't have the smarts to express your disapproval in the most elementary of English expressions, don't bother trying. Thats just embarrassing.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Just gamesmanship on the part of the German marketing representative. Never believe what a salesman tells you and you'll generally never feel like you've been duped.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

well I dont know about getting into any alliance with Japan but would have to admit the Japanese got some pretty nice and superior military technology. Seems the Ozzies better up their game.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Every one is better be prepared for the time crazy China will make its move. China only understands deterrence and realist politics.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

"awarding the contract to Japan could damage Australia’s relationship with China."

Greedy comment. The Europeans don't seem to care what China is doing in South China Sea.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

There is a possibility where the relationship between Germany and PRC becomes hostile. A more probable scenario is Germany leaks it's sub secrets to PRC in exchange for preferable economic favors in which case Australia would be left vulnerable when Australia does have to face PRC.

Basically if you share the same potential geopolitical adversary you're better off with a weapon system that faces the same potential adversary then a nation that is neutral to the situation since you know that ally would lose as much if not more if their equipment is compromised by the potential enemy so they would take every precaution so secrets would be kept away from those potential enemies.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

HAaa ahaaa haaa hahaaha hahhaaa haaa.

1 ( +13 / -12 )

Not sure how Japan is in the running at all when it's France and Germany that has the experience to build the vessels at the class size and demand Australia wants. This would appear to be contradictory to previous JT articles.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

He has a point, especially since China has already warned Austrailia against it.

1 ( +6 / -5 )

Just remember VW...and see what you might get for half of the price...

1 ( +2 / -1 )

I hope that the Aussies will tell Germany to stop with the saurkraut,already!

0 ( +5 / -5 )

Smells like blackmail to me. But when did Germany ever have any principles? Sure, I know that everybody seems to think Germany is the fair-haired boy of Europe but I guess people have short memories. Germany did start two world wars, didn't they?

Of course the Japanese subs are far superior to the German or French (or Chinese) subs but I suppose nobody cares about that.

0 ( +9 / -9 )

Seriously that is pretty childish Germany. Expected more from you than playground games.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

lol @das boot. Lovely video/song

0 ( +2 / -2 )

@triring.

Basically if you share the same potential geopolitical adversary you're better off with a weapon system that faces the same potential adversary then a nation that is neutral to the situation since you know that ally would lose as much if not more if their equipment is compromised by the potential enemy so they would take every precaution so secrets would be kept away from those potential enemies.

Unrelated but, that is the longest sentence I have ever read. I passed out three times before I could finally read it. Just sayin...

0 ( +2 / -2 )

@AgentX - Why would you deliberately write a run-on sentence, and then take pains to call attention to it in the same post?? Why not simply go back and add punctuation while you are admittedly aware of the problem??

And yes, I know you're just saying it because you just said it.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Why can't the Ozis place an order with a of the countries, one/two sub order for each country? then all of them will be happy! (except China) and if each country built one/two the order will be fulfilled very quickly!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The Germans forget that it is the US regime & war machine that will decide for their Aussie puppet State. For them Japan is the supplier of choice. It's the same force that is driving the Remilitarization of Japan (not Abe the puppet)

-1 ( +15 / -16 )

Keep the bastards honest and buy six from Germany and six from Japan. That's how a "clever country" would do it.

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

ThysennKrupp

If they make anything similar to their elevators, I would not want to be in one of those noisy tin can trash bins.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

e blackmail to me. But when did Germany ever have any principles? Sure, I know that everybody seems to think Germany is the fair-haired boy of Europe but I guess people have short memories. Germany did start two world wars, didn't they?

And went over and above to atone for them. On the other hand we have a right-wing regime in Japan, led by a historical revisionist who stands to make a ton of money from the deal. So excuse me if I'm sceptical of awarding the deal to Jaoan with its incumbent leadership. Give it to France or Germany I say

-1 ( +6 / -7 )

If the subs were built in China would they brake after about two hours of use?

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Pick a side already. America needs us all to fight in their future wars.

I agree with "thepersoniamnow". Sad but true.

-2 ( +6 / -8 )

Germany needs to show how superior its technologies are, Aussies know Japan and China are not enemies.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

China: economic downturn...laying off some 6 million...social trouble...will turn and blame Japan and other nations that Chinese land is being taken or that China is being deprived of maritime rights or something...China starts creating maritime trouble...some SEAsian country retaliates...China is confronted by several navies...North Korea enters the scene...next South Korea...Japan enters because Senkaku and other islands are being overrun by Chinese 'fishing boats'...finally the sleeping giant across the Ocean wakes up and brings its big ships and planes in...some bombing and fighting stops...US now patrols SEAsian seas big time...Oz and India somehow get involved...enter distant Pakistan...

Forgot: scene 1 comes after the 2020 Olympics...Japanese youth get conscripted (not enough manpower)...with all the adrenalin running and a lot of testosterone, the NE islands of Hokkaido get an invitation to be liberated from their captives from Moscow...円 loses power...

Last: President Trump is bashing everyone...Abe says he was right in changing the constitution...Pyongyang is liberated...truce proclaimed again...Peace.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

Japan should also offer sub to China too!

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

awarding the contract to Japan could damage Australia’s relationship with China.

Japanese business interests are severely harmed whenever Abe, his cabinet members or officials of the Japanese foreign or education ministry's make statements denying past atrocities or visit Yasukuni Shrine which takes an active stance in whitewashing Japan's military past. This submarine deal is clearly one example of that scenario playing out.

Whatever the personal beliefs of Japan's past held by Abe and other politicians and government officials, it would be better for them to keep those beliefs to themselves and not make political statements by visiting Yasukuni, if only for the sake of Japanese economic interests. Let the historians debate history, the government needs to stay out of the realm of writing/rewriting history.

-5 ( +5 / -10 )

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