Future upgrades to Cairns naval base can play a critical role in limiting China’s influence in the Pacific, foreign policy expert says

Cairns will play a vital role in deterring Chinese ‘aggression’ in the Pacific as Defence plans to strengthen its northern base network over the next decade.

Improved facilities and capacity at HMAS Cairns is an important aspect of peacekeeping across the Pacific, US Studies Centre Professor Peter Dean says. Picture: Brendan Radke

Cairns will play a vital role in deterring Chinese “aggression” in the Pacific as the Australian Defence Force considers strengthening its northern base network over the next decade, a foreign policy and defence expert says.

The French navy and US Coast Guard have already docked at the city’s naval base this year, using the key port as part of strategic operations and training in the region.

And with an additional $50bn in Defence spending across the next 10 years announced by Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles last week, now is the time to lobby for increased “maintenance and sustainment” infrastructure in the Far North, US Studies Centre Professor Peter Dean said.

“Geography matters and Cairns is a gateway to the South Pacific,” Prof Dean said.

“We’re seeing one of the largest expansions of the Royal Australian Navy in its history – a doubling of the number of the major warships that the Navy has.

“Cairns is one of the regional maintenance hubs for the Navy. As its size increases, it has to be done sustainably and through those maintenance and sustainment centres.”

An increase in the number of US soldiers at bases across northern Australia will mean upgrades to HMAS Cairns are required, Prof Dean said.

ADV Cape Otway follows HMAS Brisbane and HMAS Stalwart on departure from Cairns into the Coral Sea for Exercise Talisman Sabre. Photo: Dylan Nicholson

“They (ADF bases) will need commensurate investment into things like fuel supplies and basic infrastructure that goes to supporting the increased tempo of operations,” he said.

“That’s because the strategic importance of Australia is growing. It’s growing in relation not just to the defence of Australia – but to Australia and our partners’ contribution to the regional strategic balance throughout the Indo-Pacific.”

At the National Press Club last week, Mr Marles said China poses a lingering threat to Australia.

“China has employed coercive tactics in pursuit of its strategic objectives, including forceful handling of territorial disputes and unsafe intercepts of vessels and aircraft operating in international waters and airspace in accordance with international law,” he said.

Professor Dean, who co-authored the Defence Strategic Review 2023, said global conflicts were a cause for concern.

“The strategic situation in our region has deteriorated,” he said. “For most people, if they watch the news, they can’t help but notice the conflict in the Middle East, the war in Ukraine and China’s aggression in our region.

“The breaking of international law, the use of economic coercion and the threats of the use of military force … of the Chinese military is only escalating in the region.

“What Australia is attempting to do is to grow its military in response to provide deterrent effects in order to maintain the strategic balance because, ultimately, what we’re after is peace and security in our region.

“The cost of war is crippling and so much more than if you can deter it in the first place.”

Australia’s growing alliance with Japan could also lead to greater opportunities to expand Cairns’ naval capacity, Prof Dean said.

The Defence Strategic Review also earmarked $2bn for critical air bases in Australia’s north, including funding for upgrades to RAAF Base Scherger, located in western Cape York.

Originally published as Future upgrades to Cairns naval base can play a critical role in limiting China’s influence in the Pacific, foreign policy expert says