Australia recently released a new defense strategic report outlining a budget of $33 billion Australian dollars over the next decade to focus on developing long-range missiles, drones, and submarines to address the conflicts and risks brought by China in international geopolitics, playing a key role in the Indo-Pacific region. China has responded discreetly to this development. Experts believe that China, feeling isolated internationally and seeing Australia as a necessity, is eager to maintain good relations with the country.
On Wednesday (April 17th), Australia announced the first defense strategic report by the Albanese government. In the future, Australia will place more emphasis on the Asia-Pacific region to protect its interests in the neighboring areas and counter the escalating conflict risks stemming from China’s coercive strategies and the increasing strategic competition among the US, China, and Japan in the Pacific region. The Australian side deems it necessary to adopt a brand-new defense system.
Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles announced an increase in defense spending of $50.3 billion Australian dollars over the next decade. The focus will be on developing the trilateral security partnership known as AUKUS involving Australia, UK, and US, which will include nuclear-powered submarines, underwater drones, and long-range missiles.
Feng Chongyi, associate professor at the University of Technology Sydney, analyzed that Australia’s issuance of this new strategy is a necessary move for national defense security, driven by internal needs and various considerations.
Firstly, China is changing the status quo, especially in regions like the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea. Considering that these areas from the South China Sea, Taiwan Strait, East China Sea all the way to the South Pacific, are crucial to Australia’s maritime security, as it is the lifeline of the country, Australia must make new investments to strengthen its defense.
The second factor is the strong influence of China’s united front activities in the South Pacific island countries around Australia, such as Solomon Islands. These countries could potentially become Chinese military bases in the future, or China might deploy some of its overseas forces to these areas. “Therefore, Australia feels like a powerful entity has knocked on its door, and it has to rise and respond accordingly.”
Feng Chongyi also pointed out another important consideration, that the current leading world democratic alliance led by the US, has various country coalitions including US-Japan-India-Australia, US-Japan-Philippines, US-Japan-South Korea, US-India-Australia, etc., which the US actively promotes to maintain the existing international peace and order.
“Australia has consistently relied on the US for strategic security because its own defense capabilities are limited. This involves not only Australia’s own security but also its obligations in the international arena and its obligations to maintain peace among allies.”
Taiwan’s former Air Force Vice Commander and adjunct professor at the National Defense University’s Political Warfare School, Chang Yanting, said that Australia takes a separated approach to politics and economics from its military affairs, aligning closely with the US in military and national security matters.
“In both World War I and II, Australia synchronized with the US. Now, Australia together with the US and UK (AUSK) is pursuing nuclear-powered attack submarines. This relationship will become increasingly close, and the US Navy Marines are conducting joint training in Australia’s Port Talwin, thus Australia will align more closely with the US.”
Chang Yanting believes that while Australia is a continental country, it adopts a maritime strategy in military affairs. With only about 80,000 to 90,000 troops in total, Australia relies on maritime power and defense funding to enhance its military capabilities due to manpower shortages.
“Apart from developing nuclear-powered submarines, Australia plays a crucial role in the Indo-Pacific region. By signing mutual access treaties with Japan, their warships and aircraft can enter each other’s countries, providing logistical support, refueling, water replenishment, or maintenance services,” he said.
Chang Yanting added that Australia’s Canberra amphibious assault ships have a tonnage of over 20,000 tons and are equipped with “Super Hornets” fighter jets, similar to the US. “Now Australia is going to build nuclear-powered attack submarines, highlighting the country’s proactive stance in military affairs. It aligns with the US, putting pressure on China.”
On the 17th, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson responded to Australia’s new strategic report during a regular press briefing, criticizing the US for creating exclusive small cliques in the Asia-Pacific region, causing “camp confrontation,” especially in the South China Sea, “stirring up troubles, fearing that the world will not be chaotic,” with China “firmly opposing.”
However, when specifically mentioning Australia, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson used a relatively toned-down tone, saying that “Australia should correctly view China’s development and strategic intentions, abandon Cold War mentality, and refrain from involving China lightly.”
Feng Chongyi analyzed, “Because they (China) have a strong desire to maintain good relations with Australia since China imports strategic resources from Australia, such as iron ore, coal, oil, gas, and other commodities, which are essential for China.”
“Now that China is facing enemies from all directions, Australia is relatively friendly toward China. Both sides continue strategic partner dialogues, which other countries worldwide do not do. Therefore, trade relations between the two remain vibrant,” he said.
Chang Yanting also remarked that Australia is mainland China’s largest trading partner, enjoying a considerable trade surplus. Therefore, Australia separates its economic dealings from military matters, as part of its national policy.
He concluded that looking at the entire situation, with China’s military expansion, besides the US, no country is capable of independently confronting China. So, the US has brought Japan, Australia, and the Philippines together to have more confidence in dealing with China, effectively leveraging strategic deterrence.