China ‘doing everything to prepare to fight’ US: expert

The discovery of model US battle ships in a remote Chinese desert is further proof Beijing looking to fight a war with Washington, a leading strategist says.

Satellite photos showing mocked-up US warships in a Chinese desert are proof Beijing is “doing everything to prepare to fight a war against the US,” a leading security expert says.

“The satellite imagery of PLA mock-ups of life-scale US warship models, including a mobile ship on rails, shows the Chinese military is not creating hypothetical military power,” Michael Shoebridge, Director of the Defence, Strategy and National Security program at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, said.

A satellite image showing a mobile target on a rail track in the Taklamakan Desert, in China's western Xinjiang region on October 20, 2021. Picture: Maxar Technologies / AFP

“It is focused on very practical approaches and weapons to destroy a US force in conflict and wants to exercise against realistic targets,” he said.

On Tuesday, the world was stunned by images of the model boats, which included a full-scale outline of a US carrier and at least two Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers, at a target range in China’s Taklamakan Desert.

Chinese President Xi Jinping celebrating the 100th founding anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party on July 1, 2021 in Beijing, China. Picture: Reuters

According to Mr Shoebridge, China’s activities show it is clearly preparing to do battle with the US.

“It’s normal if you are doing everything to prepare to fight a war against the US,” he said.

The discovery of the satellite images comes in the same week as former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating, who sits on an advisory board of the China Development Bank, warned Australia not to get involved in a conflict with Beijing, particularly over Taiwan.

“Taiwan is not a vital Australian interest. We have no alliance with Taipei, none. There is no document you can find,” he said.

“Australia should not be drawn, in my view, into a military engagement over Taiwan, US sponsored or otherwise.”

Michael Shoebridge said it was important Australi secured its strategic partnerships.

However, according to Mr Shoebridge, Australia may not have any choice, which makes Australia’s strategic partnerships all the more vital.

“It makes the AUKUS partnership obviously needed but it also shows that urgent action [is needed] by the three nations involved — and the other powerful nations in the Quad (India and Japan) — to shift the military balance away from China in the Indo Pacific,” he said.

“We have to lock in AUKUS and the US presence that helps our security. This is a way to do it that puts our destiny in our hands, not that of any particular US administration.”