AUSTRALIA – MILITARY RELATIONS – CHINA

Candid meeting clears the air

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Original article by Andrew Tillett
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 18-Jun-24

Five memorandums of understanding between Australia and China were signed following the meeting between Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Monday, although their details will not be released until after Li concludes his visit in Perth on Tuesday. In what was described as a "candid" meeting, Li and Albanese agreed to improve military-to-military lines of communications in order to hopefully prevent potentially dangerous confrontations in the air or at sea, while Li stated that the two countries could seek common ground while "shelving their differences".

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Russia, China bristle at Cold War pact

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Original article by Will Glasgow
The Australian – Page: 5 : 15-Mar-23

The Taiwanese government has welcomed Australia’s deal to acquire nuclear-powered submarines, stating that it will help redress the "military imbalance" across the Taiwan Strait. However, the deal has been criticised by Chinese and Russian officials. China’s Foreign Ministry has described the AUKUS alliance as "typical Cold War mentality" that will undermine the international nuclear non-proliferation system. Russia in turn has warned that the alliance will ensure "years of confrontation" in the Asia-Pacific region. Meanwhile, Professor Chen Hong of the East China Normal University says Australia has officially put itself on the People’s Liberation Army’s "defence radar".

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Billions more in military spending won’t be enough to counter China: Morrison

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Original article by Paul Sakkal
Brisbane Times – Page: Online : 7-Mar-23

Former prime minister Scott Morrison says Australia’s defence budget should be increased to at least 2.5 per cent of GDP, compared with less than two per cent at present. Morrison contends that a big increase in defence spending is needed in order to counter the rise of China in the Indo-Pacific region; however, he concedes that Australia could not hope to defeat China in a military conflict, so alliances with countries such as the US and India are vital. The Chinese government recently revealed plans to increase its defence spending by seven per cent in 2023, to $330 billion. In contrast, Australia’s annual defence budget is currently $48.7bn, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese wants to lift this to more than two per cent of GDP.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

‘We must get real on a possible China war’: Dutton

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Original article by Olivia Caisley
The Australian – Page: 4 : 26-Apr-21

Defence Minister Peter Dutton says Australia must continue to be a ‘good neighbour’ in the Asia-Pacific and work with its partners and allies to maintain peace in the region. He adds that China has made it clear that reunification with Taiwan is firmly on its agenda, and he has warned that war over Taiwan cannot be ruled out in the future. Dutton has also indicated that thousands of deals with foreign governments are being reviewed following the Coalition’s decision to terminate Victoria’s deal to participate in China’s Belt and Road Initiative. They include the 2015 deal to lease the Port of Darwin to a Chinese company for 99 years.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF DEFENCE

China’s nuclear menace triggers call for missile defence shield

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Original article by Simon Benson
The Australian – Page: 1 & 9 : 4-Aug-17

Alan Shearer of the US Center for Strategic & International Studies has called for Australia to develop a continental missile defence shield, to combat both possible conventional and nuclear attacks from China. Shearer, who previously advised on defence matters to former Coalition prime ministers John Howard and Tony Abbott, says China has up to 100 intercontinental ballistic missiles with the capacity to reach Australia. Former Labor Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said in July 2017 that Australia should develop a missile defence shield.

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CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND BUDGETARY ASSESSMENTS, AUSTRALIAN STRATEGIC POLICY INSTITUTE LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS LIMITED