Australia has unveiled its biggest military shakeup in decades to refocus the armed forces on deterring potential enemies before they reach its shores. This move is in response to China’s aggressive military build-up, which is now the largest and most ambitious of any country since World War II.
Australia has announced its biggest military reform in decades, with a focus on deterring would-be enemies far from its shores. Defence Minister Richard Marles said that the decades-old strategy of focusing on territories was “no longer fit for purpose” in a world where China is aggressively building up its military without transparency or reassurance to the Indo-Pacific region.
To address this issue, Australia plans to shift its focus to deterring potential enemies before they reach its shores, using long-range missile strike capabilities, both air- and land-launched. The Australian Defence Force will also acquire substantially longer-range strike capability to complement the development of stealthy long-range nuclear-powered submarines. The navy’s surface combatant fleet will be reviewed to ensure its size, structure, and composition complement the capabilities provided by the new submarines.
The Australian army will sharpen its focus on coastal defence, particularly in the north, while a plan to purchase 450 infantry fighting vehicles will be scaled back to just 129. The move comes as Australian military planners view China’s military rise warily, fearing that Beijing’s vast capabilities could effectively cut Australia off from trading partners and global supply chains.
The strategic review by the defence ministry warns that China’s military build-up threatens the global rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region, which adversely impacts Australia’s national interests. The review also stated that the return of major power strategic competition between China and the United States “should be seen as the defining feature of our region and time”.
In conclusion, Australia’s biggest defence reform in decades will enable the country to deter potential enemies before they reach its shores, thereby safeguarding its national interests. The move is in response to China’s aggressive military build-up, which poses a threat to the global rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region.
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