Security experts back Defence Minister Peter Dutton’s message to ‘prepare for war’

Australian security experts have backed Defence Minister Peter Dutton’s warning to “prepare for war”, but say our military is not equipped for a conflict with China.

Australian security experts agree with Defence Minister Peter Dutton’s assessment the nation must “prepare for war” to protect peace.

But they have warned the nation’s current “one punch” and “boutique” military force is not yet equipped for a conflict with China.

Mr Dutton issued the dire warning on Monday, saying increased aggression from China and Russia amounted to an “arc of authoritarianism” threatening global peace.

In the wake of Prime Minister Scott Morrison describing the establishment of a Chinese military base in the Solomon Islands as a “red line” Australia would not allow the super- power to cross, Mr Dutton said it was not a time to “be weak”.

“The only way you can preserve peace is to prepare for war, and be strong as a country,” he said.

Defence Minister Dutton has issued a dire Anzac Day warning about Australia’s readiness for war. Picture: Jason Edwards

Australian Strategic Policy Institute executive director Peter Jennings said Mr Dutton was “trying to shake the complacency out of people” on China. “It really couldn’t get more serious,” he said.

But he said Australia would likely have to lean on the US for support as the ADF was not in a position to effectively combat threats closer to home.

“The real dilemma that we have is there’s a huge amount of money being invested in new military equipment, but we’re not going to see it for 10 to 15 years,” he said.

Mr Jennings said Australia could have, and should have done more to prevent the recent security pact between China and the Solomons.

Australian Strategic Policy Institute executive director Peter Jennings has backed the Minister’s assessment. Picture: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

Australian National University Strategic and Defence Studies Centre’s Professor John Blaxland said Mr Dutton was “not technically wrong” about needing to be ready for war, but warned the ADF was not presently equipped for the type of conflict China might instigate.

“We are not muscled up,” he said.

“(The ADF) is very honed, it’s very high tech, but it’s boutique, it’s a one punch force.”

Prof Blaxland said Australia “absolutely” could have done more to prevent the security deal between China and the Solomons, through more engagement on issues key to the Pacific including “governance challenges” like people smuggling, corruption and transnational crime, as well as the looming “environmental catastrophe” threatening the ­region.

Labor frontbencher Murray Watt accused the government of “failing to deliver the defence capability that our country needs”.

“What (Mr Dutton) is really bad at is actually preparing us for war,” he said.

Originally published as Security experts back Defence Minister Peter Dutton’s message to ‘prepare for war’