A government review of Australia’s military capability has called for Canberra to make sweeping changes to better prepare for a future conflict with China, Australia’s largest trading partner.
According to Australian media, the review has triggered “one of the greatest shifts in Australia’s military since” World War II.
The review was conducted by former Australian Defense Minister Stephen Smith and Angus Houston, who previously served as the head of the Australian Defense Forces (ADF). Smith and Houston said that Australia has entered the “missile age” and is no longer protected by its isolated location.
They called for Australia to invest in more long-range missiles and drones and to boost domestic weapons manufacturing. The Australian government of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has endorsed the review and said it would increase military spending to fulfill the recommendations.
The review called China’s current military buildup the “largest and most ambitious of any country since the end of the Second World War … this buildup is occurring without transparency or reassurance to the Indo-Pacific region of China’s strategic intent.”
The review said as a consequence of China’s buildup, “for the first time in 80 years, we must go back to fundamentals, to take a first-principles approach as to how we manage and seek to avoid the highest level of strategic risk we now face as a nation: The prospect of major conflict in the region that directly threatens our national interest.”
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning hit back at the characterization of Beijing’s military modernization. “We do not pose a challenge to any country. We hope certain countries will not use China as an excuse for military buildup and will refrain from hyping up the ‘China threat’ narrative,” she said.
The release of the Australian review comes after the US, Britain, and Australia announced their nuclear-powered submarine plans under the AUKUS military pact, which the three countries signed in 2021. Australia is also a member of the Quad, a four-nation group that includes the US, Japan, and India that hawks in Washington as a potential foundation for a NATO-style alliance in the Asia Pacific.
The US has been encouraging its allies in the region to boost their military capabilities, and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin welcomed the news from Australia. “It is the latest example of the pivotal role Australia plays in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific, including through participation in AUKUS and the Quad,” he said.
Austin added that the review “demonstrates Australia’s commitment to being at the forefront of incorporating new capabilities for the Australian Defence Force to better enable Australia to meet regional and global challenges, as well as to our Unbreakable Alliance, which has never been stronger.”
Australia’s announcement comes a few months after Japan unveiled its plans to dramatically increase its military capabilities by doubling its defense budget. Tokyo’s plans are also specifically aimed at China.
The Australian people aren’t very keen on becoming war fodder-lackeys of Wash. Read Caitlin Johnstone’s column every day. https://caitlinjohnstone.com/
They will have no choice , they will be forced to fight China , it`s not like they could run to another country because they are stuck on a Continental Island , unlike in the US where those who where being conscripted escaped to Canada or Mexico .
They will run to Indonesia and Thailand which are also big Australian vacation locations. New Guinea could also be a good place to get lost in.
…Inhale……………………………………………………………………exhale.
Prepping for war with China? Nuclear war, with China? How do you prep for that? Oh, more bombs and military hardware? A lot of good that will do, where the rubber meets the road……
It’s industrialized and systemic YOLO. There’s a bunch of assholes out there wondering why we even have nukes if not to gin up war and immolate millions of innocent poors.
Twisted but true (YOLO).
Probably their idea of a rapture?….
They can’t finish with more than everyone else if other people outlive them.
Put another shrimp on the barbi, China’s coming.
It sounds like Australians will need to build H-bomb. resistant shelters. Why don’t they declare neutrality…???? They are really quite helpless if they are stupid enough to join any alliance with those states which are challenging China. Being a non nuclear bomb state, I cannot fathom what advantage they will possibly gain by joining in hostile reactions with China. What they could get is nuked by china.
Perhaps it’s that fear of what China is capable of doing has pushed them to take some responsiblity for their own protection?
If others step up then it’s so much easier for us to pull back.
There would have been no need to “step up” if the US wasn’t so intent on instigating the whole god damned thing. “Pull back”? Seriously?
History did not start in that region with us.
We are just late comers who mistakenly believe we know better than those who have been screwing it up for centuries.
The Aussies are part of the British empire who has been there as imperialists/colonists for centuries and those folks are still there doing their thing conducting commerce at even a larger scale than we. (Don’t get me started on the French nor the Portuguese Empire which made a mess of things in that area of the world too)
I know America is so great and wonderful that only our concerns are ever acted on and no other country has any issues with the Chinese…… but that’s complete BS and the Aussies have their own issues we need to stop protecting and acting on.
They need to step up so we will withdraw. Only on the internet is a complete abrupt reversal of policy is possible but it is possible as others grow a pair. Then we will slowly withdraw and they will “protect” their interests with their own show of force.
You do know that Bhutan, India, Japan, Philippines and Vietnam (besides Taiwan) all have territorial disputes with China, don’t you?
The US did not create those disputes either.
Fortunately India has a bigger population then does China but they get their arms from Russia (France is #2) so there’s no chance Uncle Sugar will get that much involved with that one if the Chinese are crazy enough to push the issue with India.
The Phillippines favors a “one-China” so we have a little playing of both sides of the issue with them (Chinese investment there is huge especially in energy) but they too are disputing China’s want to expand to what they percieve is their territory.
And of course Japan wants to lay claim to some islands but no one wants them to arm up so they turn to us instead of to their neighbors like the Aussies who need to arm up themselves if they have concerns about Chinese intentions.
“They need to step up so we will withdraw”
Withdraw? Are we capable of doing that? No matter how many in the region that have real disputes with China “step up”?
Perhaps you need to peruse something other than western media?
You real have an Americancentric view of things
I was thinking the same about you.
Perhaps I understand the world does not revolve around the US and other nations have their own reasons for doing stuff whereas it’s USA bad and everyone is else are simpletons without freewill with you?
I do not view others as “less than” without their own issues with China just as they have with us.
This is about what the US motives are for trying to get these other countries to arm themselves to the teeth. If these countries have problems with China, they shouldn’t have needed any coaxing from the US. (The US has been encouraging its allies in the region to boost their military capabilities) Suddenly everyone is spending wildly on “defense” which just happens to coincide with the US officials openly predicting war with China in the not-too-distant future. Shame on me for thinking the US could be up to something other than having concerns about anybody’s ass but their own.
So those nations are just easily led by those really smart Americans?
We just fooled those dummies didn’t we?
We are so smart and they are so dumb…..
I just can’t agree with that world view but more power to you
Are you denying that they are our lackeys? And no, those aren’t smart Americans leading them around by their noses, that’s the problem. I can’t believe you think otherwise. We’re just some peaceful nation minding our own damn business, I guess.
Other countries “aren’t smart”
How very American of you….
If smart is measured in standing up to the US, then no, they’re not. And I was talking about the American’s pushing for war.
That’s very ugly-American of you…wow…..
Bullshit. You’re grasping.
Sorry but to view other nation as “stupid” because they do not agree with your world view is not “nice” but trends toward the classical “Ugly Americanism” I -know-better-than-them type view Americans are known for.
I thought we were talking about war. Are you at the right place? Do you think war is smart?
A reflexive “no war” no matter what China (or someone else) wants or demands is just too a simple view for me as is to view other nation’s concerns and their abilities to decide what is best for themselves (or they are stupid dummies or something equally childish) is akin to hubris to me.
You as an American who knows best for those backwards people or “they are stupid” is just simplistic nonsence to me; classic ugly-Americanism…sorry to disappoint….maybe…..
At this point any war with China would be quite unnecessary. So, your point would only matter if war was even an option at this point. As is, it’s just more “encouragement” for war from the US. I would say that was dumb in any situation but if you want to keep going with the “Ugly American” description, feel free.
So those hapless countries are being led astray into stupidy (your description) by our “encouragement”?
They just don’t know bettter, the dummies…….
So that view is not an “ugly” one?
How about, “elitist American who knows better” instead?
Those stupid Australians……
If they haven’t been paying attention, I can’t help that. Was Ukraine stupid for allowing itself to be used a pawn? Unless Australia enjoys being led around by its nose, I’d say stupid was appropriate.
Yes, your simplistic view of others is quite stupid to coin a word.
Like your response?
You started this and now you whine…
Started what? I responded to the fantasy you posted about the US “withdrawing” from the region when the other countries in the region can deal with China without us. You started this bullshit by saying I just blame the US reflexively and I couldn’t possibly be basing anything I say on actual US actions. So, let me know when the US backs off and lets those in China’s sphere deal with China. At that point you might have an argument. Don’t hold your breath.
If kissing America’s ass and being used as pawns is something you wouldn’t label as stupid, then I guess you’re right.
You really look down on “others” don’t you?
Typical American view isn’t it?
Or is it an elitist one?
Has nothing to do with looking “down” on others. You keep trying to bring that into the conversation any way you can. Can I change the word to foolish? Bamboozled? What would be appropriate in your mind? If you willingly get in bed with the US, one of those words apply.
Once again you definately think less of other countries who don’t follow your beliefs don’t you ( do you prefer that?)
Honestly your inabilty to understand that other nations aren’t hapless dummies or whatever childish word you decide to use is just becoming boring.
I’ll just give you a “USA is bad” and everyone is a “dummy” so you’ll get a smile and stick with that completely mindless stuff you seem to prefer….
what a joke….
And once again you just babble nonsense. Everyone you disagree with is an ugly American who puts the blame for everything bad in the world on the US. See how easy that is?
You would know nonsence wouldn’t you.
Everything America touches is bad to you which is as simple minded as the opposite is.
Then there is your idiotic belief that countries such as Australia are stupid, dummies and other simplistic internet nonsence akin to Gateway Pundit drool.
Go away and try to impress other imbeciles like yourself. Do you want even more ridicule for our inane idiocy?
Yes, I do know nonsense. And that would be you and your insistence that what I said, or say, is only because I believe everything America touches is bad. I believe any country following the lead of the US and is in the process of arming themselves to the teeth, with “encouragement” from the US, to solve any present or future problems with China is indeed either foolish, idiotic or yes, STUPID. And I base that on our actions and not something that I’ve imagined. We encourage war. That’s a fact. And we’ve really ratcheted up that encouragement since we went on a rampage following 9/11. If those other countries haven’t seen what we leave behind and they still hop in bed with us, what exactly would you call that? Smart?
https://caitlinjohnstone.com/2023/04/25/new-defence-review-further-enslaves-australia-to-us-war-agendas/
As a favor to you I skimmed it. It simply was an opposing (minority ) view, written in a voice you obviously agree with, that argues there is no need to worry about China’s designs on the South China sea in which they claim parts of it that Australia claims itself.
Here is the majority view in a short form (from a voice you won’t agree with):
“Australia has formally rejected China’s territorial and maritime claims in the South China Sea, aligning itself more closely with the US as tensions rise. In a declaration to the United Nations, Australia said the claims, which take in the majority of the sea, had “no legal basis”
Jul 25, 2020 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-53536173.
Until the other side makes some serious electorial wins that changes its institutional outlook in Australia, that goes back to the time they were the Brit’s complete b!tches, Australia won’t decide China can “own” what they perceive they do. That view by other countries in that area of the world is why folks are upset at China around there and it is time to take that opposition at China’s designs on “their” waters into action so the neocons in Washington can be isolated as their power subside because others are “protecting” themselves.
My view is that just as China has every “right” to decide something is theirs; Australia does too. We do not need to be the enforcers though but need to withdraw back to the bar and watch the two go at it if they wish at the end of the strutting for the girls (their people) drinking with them.
To believe the US and the Brits and the usual suspects in the form of France, Germany are all so powerful as to be the ones that cajoled, fooled or lied to them (use your own words) into believing this really looks down on them as a people or a country hense my use of the descriptive term that Europeans so aptly use, “Ugly American”.
I much rather have them flex their arms to preclude China from acting on their desires more than us because that’s their issue more than ours. That way as they build to do this it, it provides us an “out” to not only withdraw but to switch the money being spent in this type of foreign activity into something more domestic.
Just a completely nutty view of things….sorry……(not really;-)
“My view is that just as China has every “right” to decide something is theirs; Australia does too. We do not need to be the enforcers though but need to withdraw back to the bar and watch the two go at it if they wish at the end of the strutting for the girls (their people) drinking with them.”
There you go again with “withdraw”. This is how this whole thing started. You don’t really think the US would sit back and watch if the two went “at it” do you?
“I much rather have them flex their arms to preclude China from acting on their desires more than us because that’s their issue more than ours. That way as they build to do this it, it provides us an “out” to not only withdraw but to switch the money being spent in this type of foreign activity into something more domestic.
Just a completely nutty view of things….sorry……(not really;-)”
And you think I don’t want exactly the same thing? Do you think I’d bitch about the US so much if this were even humanly possible? I just don’t get how you could even think a thing is possible. There are so few days that go by here that the headlines don’t tell us about another country the US is playing war games with or how we’re trying to create coalitions to prepare for war. Always preparing for war. Never giving peace a second thought.
So you are just a one note guy without nuance. It must be nice to be so mindless and view everything in such a simplistic manner .
I believe we are done here.
I like to think and analysis whereas you prefer mindless musterbation.
They must do this, we must do that; and others must believe as I do.
Yet you bemoan when others do that when you don’t agree with their own musterbations.
And you’re a dense tool who apparently has been living under a rock since at least the turn of the century. Analysis? Is that what you call that gibberish you’re spewing? It would make sense if you were to ignore what we’ve done JUST since 9/11. Now crawl back under that rock and make believe the US is just like anybody else.
LOL
I’ve picked up a simplistic troll with completely asinine views. He can’t even articulate what he believes in a few paragraphs other than “USA bad”.
Please make a fool of yourself even more and act like the simplistic child you are.
And you said you were done here. But hey, we can do this as long as you want. Try reading some articles here. You seem to be lost. And I’m curious as to why you’re not jumping on all the other “US bad” commenters here. We’re coming out of the woodwork. Must be because we read all the “US bad” articles here that are written by all those “US bad” writers. Now climb back under that rock and shut the fuck up.
Not a even a paragraph…
And then the troll demands compliance…
Trolls are so pathetic and childish but are great for a laugh at their expence….lol.
The tool has no answers. Not once did I say Australia didn’t have issues with China or they didn’t have a right to arm themselves. What I did say is that they should not get in bed with the US or take “encouragement” from Lloyd “Raytheon” Austin. Sounds reasonable to me. Do you know what a troll is?
Trolls are idoits that just spew nonsence without anything worthwhile to add as what you doing.
So you believe the US is all so powerful we can convice the Kiwis to do things in their best interests….right?
I on the hand believe they are big boys and girls that can decide what their best interests are.
Now if you just want to mock and act like a trolling child we are done.
I originally said “nudging” from the US, as in using their influence. And I originally was arguing about the US intent to “withdraw” and whether listening to encouragement from Lloyd “Raytheon” Austin was wise. Given our past history I wouldn’t call anything I said outlandish. But those opinions somehow mean I blame the US for everything. Never mind that we do obviously have a great deal of influence over our “Allies” and our Secretary of Defense does love to feed our MIC. You can call me a jerk or an asshole, but I won’t accept being called a troll. I am not a fucking troll.
Trolls only insult which is what you were doing.
I have no problem with disagreement but when it’s just the type of nonsence one reads in the comment section at the Gateway Pundit that is being a troll to me.
As to Australia; they have very serious concerns with China.
During the height of COVID they and China were really pissed off at each other. China was talking blockade, told everyone they “planned” to extend what they were claiming as Chinese waters even more forcibly than they had been.
They ramped up their so-called belligerence directed towards Australia that stems from years ago when the British empire ( that we of course were subjects of at one time too and still try to do as the empire wants, even though we like to pretend we always run things totally) so to say anything more than we “influence” as you seem to be doing previously, I can not agree with.
Influence sure; just as others, especially the Brits, the EU (Brussels) and our other trading partners ( to varying extent), influence ours actions at times.
But those Aussies are not just vassels haplessly doing our bidding with really no reasons to be inviting us in to screw with China for them as they do the same themselves for their own personal reasons.
I started this by disagreeing with you about the US withdrawing from the region. Do you consider that an insult? And what exactly are “troll”, “simplistic”, “elitist” and “US bad”? Compliments? There is nothing I said that makes me a troll. The vast majority of articles here are very unflattering towards the US as are the vast majority of the comments. My comments weren’t any different and they were accurate. We use our allies as lackeys and our secretary of defense is a pimp for the MIC. It’s you that went off on me and not the other way around. And I never said Australia didn’t have issues with China but since I didn’t disparage China enough in your mind, I’m just looking to blame the US because that’s all I got. And what’s really hilarious, is that you make the same type of “US bad” comments.
So we are the masterful dummies who make an even more stupid bunch of people to do our bidding……lol
I don’t call anyone pushing for war smart. So, whatever.
So you do view all other nations as dumb, who don’t agree with your perception of their issues and how they resolve them.
You just know so much better than they?
Hubris anyone?
I consider nations pushing for war to be quite dumb, yes. I didn’t know it was even questionable being that we are on anti-war.com for Christ’s sake.
So a reflexive no war no matter what China does (or the converse; what the US does to others) is a manditory condition to post?
I must do the idiotic US bad; China or Russia is good, no matter what, nonsence to post here?
Most people aren’t that simplistic but here you are……
I said, “pushing for war” is dumb. That is what I said shouldn’t even be questionable here. Stop trying to change what I’m being very specific about. The US is “encouraging war” as Lula put it. I didn’t think that was debatable. And for the life of me I can’t see how that makes me one who thinks “Russia or China is good”. Or is that just your standard escape route?
So why can’t Australia have their own selfish reasons to push back against China?
You keep posting that they are dumb to push back against China’s policy against them because somehow they are only doing it because of us.
Is that not your position?
Perhaps you could share when you believe another country should be “allowed” to conduct foreign policy in the manner they wish without calling them stupid in the process?
“The US has been encouraging its allies in the region to boost their military capabilities, and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin welcomed the news from Australia.”
Call me skeptical. And I’m all for other countries being allowed to conduct foreign policy in a manner they wish. I guess I’d have to have been living under a rock if I believed the US doesn’t influence every country on the planet that they call an ally. Is that where you’ve been?
We influence just they do to us.
The status quo with us being the one to protect everyone else is not working so why not try to “let” them protect themselves?
Such a wild concept….
I agree. But do you really think we are going to “withdraw”?
Biden won’t .
Harris if she has to step in, might.
Her few vocal “supporters” still left in the DNC are very hard Left so she might be way more antiwar than Joe if left to her own devices.
Kennedy would but won’t get in so that is moot.
Trump likely will but you’ll see way more on the NATO side with him asking why its up to the US to pay most of the bills.
Hecwill force more onto the Brits in the China Sea (which becomes less of an issue if we really do revive domestic manufacturing which lessens the amount of cheap Schiff from China)
DeSantis’s fanboys are starting to push him to be VP ( they recognize a Pres run won’t work this time) so if he does do a Harris and steps in he likely would proceed with Trump’s plans but would be soon be pushed at by neocons so who knows?
The Greens or Libertarians? Who cares? No chance.
Biden won’t. Harris won’t. Trump won’t. Desantis won’t. All in on China.
All they have to do is come to security agreements that they can all live with , one thing is for sure there will never be peace with the yanks stirring the shit all the time turning one population against another every chance they get.
Infantry win wars so do the numbers China has a standing army of millions not to mention millions in reserve , how many millions of infantry do the Australians have ? , they would probably be lucky to have one million which i seriously doubt .
So because China is so big, Australia should give up now and hope they will be nice to them….
So might makes right?
That is not how the real world works.
Yes, infantry wins wars … if you can get that infantry to the battlefield.
How many amphibious landing craft does the PLA Navy have? How many transport vessels to get the infantry to the jump-off points for launching those landing craft?
The reason the western regimes are pushing conflict now rather than later is because they don’t assess China as being in any position to win that conflict at the moment, but as moving toward being able to do so.
Why would China intentions for Australia NOT be solely dependent on Australia’s intent regarding China…???? So if Aussie’s were neutral, why would China not have neutral intentions with them…????? Why would ANY non nuclear bomb state in their right mind want to foment war with a nuclear armed neighbor…….?????? Have they all gone insane & self destructive???
So it’s the Aussie’s fault they want their own perceived territory…sure….lol.
Whatever China wants….
Not really it`s the yank ramping up the fear factor , i mean how stupid can they be they have lost billions in trade because of the yanks telling them not to trade with China .
So the Aussies are just a bunch of easily led dummies that are being fooled by us.
That’s a lot of misplaced hubris to believe we are so slick that we just fool those simpletons into doing whatever we want.
“If others step up then it’s so much easier for us to pull back”. What “others”, & WHO is US…? What does that mean…????
Australia and the US are you really that obtuse?
Or are you just one of those binary folks that believe the US is soooo powerful that other’s issues don’t matter? And they are incapable to do things in their interests in regards to China’s expansionist policy?
Really America-centic there… I must say.
What has China done to Australia besides becoming its biggest trading partner? I think you have China’s expansionist policy on the brain.
Try reading up on what Australia believes not what you wish.
I think that China has figured out something that the United States hasn’t. Namely that it’s much less costly and much more profitable to engage with other nations in mutually beneficial trade than to engage in war with them. And that the stronger your trading partners are the more wealthy you can get trading with them.
Except that has not prevented some of the regional countries I have named (and others) from having real disputes.
India and China’s border dispute has been bloody for instance.
This western perception that other countries do not have their own real issues with China is just a Pollyannish view of the world and is a western/American centric view at that.
Lots of countries have border disputes and squabbles with their neighbors. What dispute does China have with Australia?
I’ll let the Aussies share what is about:
“There is no legal basis for China to draw straight baselines connecting the outermost points of maritime features or ‘island groups’ in the South China Sea, including around the ‘Four Sha’ or ‘continental’ or ‘outlying’ archipelagos,” it said.
“Australia rejects any claims to internal waters, territorial sea, exclusive economic zone and continental shelf based on such straight baselines.
“Australia also rejects China’s claims to maritime zones generated by submerged features, or low-tide elevations in a manner inconsistent with UNCLOS. Land building activities or other forms of artificial transformation cannot change the classification of a feature under UNCLOS … the Australian government does not accept that artificially transformed features can ever acquire the status of an island.”
Squabbles between regional neighbors that have been going on for decades.
But thanks for posting that information (seriously).
Yet some around here seem to believe either those squabbles never occur or that China would never be mean to anyone not even it’s neighbors…
For sure they do occur. But China has said that they are committed to resolving this dispute peacefully. In light of the role China has been playing in middle east peace negotiations I think they deserve at least some benefit of the doubt that they are trying to conquer the world (which the US government would like us all to believe).
I’m sure they want to resolve everything peacefully (who wouldn’t?) and share that relentlessly.
But that want/wish does not preclude action at the end if someone pushes it too much.
Unfortunately those that have disputes with them tend not to believe them fully about this want of only a peaceful resolution.
So lay down and beg the Chinese to play nice if you are an Aussie?
Are you French and just like to surrender to anyone?
IF it came to a exchange of nukes the entire Australian population would be all but wiped out , there are only 20 million Australians the majority live in cities on the East , South & West Coast easy targets .
Good for them.
Perhaps we can dial back as others take over their own perceived security needs?
Australia needs to step up if that is what they believe is in their interest and stop asking us to do it for them.
You’re joking, right? Do you really believe that? No nudging from Uncle Sam? I mean when Lloyd says it’s a good thing, can it really be a good thing?