‘First hit’: China’s chilling warning to Australia over Taiwan

Australia has been warned by Chinese propagandists not to interfere in any potential military conflict over Taiwan as tensions rise.

Australia’s military is “weak” and will be the “first hit” in any potential conflict over Taiwan, Chinese propagandists have warned.

“Australia’s military is too weak to be a worthy opponent of China, and if it dares to interfere in a military conflict for example in the Taiwan Straits, its forces will be among the first to be hit,” the article in The Global Times said.

“Australia must not think it can hide from China if it provokes.”

It comes as Australian naval forces completed war game exercises with the US, France and Japan in the East China Sea.

Military vehicles carrying DF-21D ballistic missiles. Picture: Reuters

The first ever training drill between the four nations was met with fury by Beijing.

“The People’s Liberation Army doesn’t even need to make pointed responses to the joint drill since it’s insignificant militarily,” the article said.

“Australia is within range of China’s conventional warhead-equipped DF-26 intermediate-range ballistic missile.”

Tensions between Australia and China were strained last month when Defence Minister Peter Dutton and Home Affairs secretary Michael Pezzullo suggested the “drums of war” in the region are getting louder.

Mr Pezzullo said in his Anzac Day message that the country should do everything in its power to find peace, “until we are faced with the only prudent, if sorrowful, course – to send off, yet again, our warriors to fight the nation’s wars”.

His sobering comments came on the same day Mr Dutton said that a war with China over Taiwan should not “be discounted”.

Originally published as ‘First hit’: China’s chilling warning to Australia over Taiwan