“We are facing the largest arms race in our region since 1945 and the greatest strategic uncertainty,” Pat Conroy, Australia's Minister for Defense Industry and International Development, told us. According to Conroy, the nuclear submarine agreement between Australia, the US and the UK – which has been described as an important step towards deterring China – is a “bipartisan commitment”.
When it comes to building Australia's defense industry and integrating it with the US and UK, Conroy believes “everyone needs to step up”. Canberra is doing its part by pledging to increase its navy from 11 large ships to 26, while Australian companies are involved in the production of the US Army's new precision attack missile to replace ATMS missiles and other munitions.
Australia's rapid defense buildup, which coincides with a record increase in Japan's defense budget, is aimed at deterring China's actions in the region, especially a potential invasion of Taiwan.
During a lecture on Wednesday at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Australian Ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd praised the Pentagon's efforts since November to rebuild strained relations with the Chinese military with the aim of reducing conflict in the Indo-Pacific region. Rudd added that observers should be “fully aware” of the fact that “there is nothing in our analysis to suggest that China's strategic intentions toward Taiwan — or its military preparations to achieve that goal by force — have changed in any way.”
“In fact, they are continuing,” Rudd confirmed. Last month, a US general estimated that an invasion could happen as early as 2027.
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