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• Australia has absolutely not' committed to join US in event of war over Taiwan, Marles says
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Submarines will be kept under Australia's control, minister says

Richard Marles insists any submarines in Australia's fleet will be kept under the control and direction of the Australian government.

If there was a point in time in the future where there was a conflict in the world, where there was the prospect of one of these submarines with Australians onboard entering it, that is obviously going to be a matter for the government at the time.

Just on this point - in return for access to these Virginia-class subs, has Australia given the United States any sort of commitment, explicitly, implicitly, that we will be there in the event of a conflict over Taiwan?

The answer to that is of course not. Of course not. And nor was one sought. I've listened to that conjecture from a number of commentators. It is plain wrong.

No quid pro quo here over the access to the Virginia-class subs?

Absolutely not. And I couldn't be more unequivocal than that.