https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/a...erns-nw8vzzxnf
Australia ramps up defence spending over Chinese concerns
Australia will spend hundreds of millions of dollars on training with American troops amid rising tension with China.
In what has been interpreted as a signal to Beijing of Australia’s solidarity with its key defence ally, Scott Morrison, the prime minister, appeared beside US commanders in the Northern Territory yesterday to unveil increased training for Australian forces with US Marines.
Morrison announced an upgrade to military training bases and airfields across the north worth A$750 million (£418 million). He said that the spending would allow increased training with US forces under the Force Posture Agreement.
The agreement, which was put in place by President Obama’s administration, gives the US
a military presence in the Indo-Pacific region by stationing its troops at bases in the north of Australia. There is an annual rotation of US Marines in Darwin and about 2,200 Americans are based there at any one time....
The spending announcement follows a statement made on Sunday by Australia’s top security official, Michael Pezzullo, the home affairs secretary, that “drums of war” are beating and the country must be prepared “to send off, yet again, our warriors to fight”.*
Later on Sunday, Australia’s defence minister, Peter Dutton warned Australians not to “discount” the prospect of conflict with China over its
intention to regain Taiwan.
Last week the government
tore up the only Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) deal that China had secured in Australia — an agreement negotiated by the Labor-led authority in the state of Victoria.
Yesterday the prime minister said that Chinese ownership of a port in Darwin would also be reviewed if Australian defence agencies negatively assessed “the national security implications” of the port’s ownership....
China’s foreign ministry yesterday said that Australia was “sick” and suggested the government needs to “take medicine”. Wang Wenbin, China’s foreign ministry spokesman, said that Australia was responsible for the deterioration of the trade relationship between the countries.....
“Australia is sick, however it is asking others to take medicine, which will not solve the problem at all,” Wang said......
* “
Drums of War Beating” warns Australian as China tension grows
Australia has warned that the “drums of war” are beating as tensions increase with China over its aggression against Taiwan.
Michael Pezzullo, the home affairs secretary, tipped as a future head of Australia’s defence forces, said the prospect of a military confrontation could no longer be ignored.
Writing
in an unusually forthright message to 15,000 staff for Anzac Day last weekend, when Australia and New Zealand remember their war dead, Michael Pezzullo, 57, the Australian home affairs secretary tipped as a future head of Australia’s defence forces, declared that the “drums of war” were beating and that Australia must be prepared “to send off, yet again, our warriors to fight”.
He wrote: “In a world of perpetual tension and dread, the drums of war beat — sometimes faintly and distantly, and at other times more loudly and ever closer.”
Fears are growing that China is building a force capable of retaking Taiwan. The United States has a security pact with Taiwan to supply it with hardware and technology to deter any invasion from the mainland. In the event of any conflict, experts suggest that Australia would follow Washington’s lead.
Pezzullo’s message came as Peter Dutton, the defence minister, warned that a war with China over Taiwan could not be discounted**....
**
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-04-...ment/100096928