Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has contradicted Donald Trump, saying that AUKUS is not about China, despite the US President saying the submarines were aimed at deterring Beijing from taking over Taiwan, but that they would not be needed.

Asked about the deal to sell Australia nuclear-powered submarines as a way of deterring China from taking control of Taiwan, Mr Trump doubted that they would even be needed.

“I think we’ll be just fine with China. China doesn’t want to do that,” Mr Trump said in response.

“We have the best of everything and nobody is going to mess with that ... I think we’ll end up with a very strong trade deal. Both of us will be happy.”

Mr Trump did not rule out adjusting the US position on Taiwan’s independence in exchange for making a trade bargain with President

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