Richard Marles uses speech in Washington to issue stark China warning about Asia-Pacific

Australia issued a fresh warning about the threat of conflict in the region over the coming years, in a move supported by former PM Tony Abbott.

Former prime minister Tony Abbott said he is “encouraged” that the Albanese government is committed to broadening Australia’s defence and strategic policy, amid threats of Chinese aggression in the region.

His comments come as Defence Minister Richard Marles said the world is seeing a military build up at a rate unseen since World War Two and issued a stark warning about the threat of conflict in the Asia-Pacific region.

In a major speech in Washington during his first trip to the US since winning office, Mr Marles has flagged Australia’s concern about the use of force and coercion to advance territorial claims “as is occurring in the South China Sea”.

Mr Abbott applauded Mr Marles for taking the sharp warning to Washington.

“One of the things that encourages me about the new government is that they are very much continuing the line of the former government when it comes to Australia’s defence and strategic policy. Good on Richard Marles and Anthony Albanese for doing so,” Mr Abbott told ABC Radio.

“I think it would be very serious if China were to establish a string of military bases in the South Pacific. It’s obvious that’s China’s intention... And I think it’s important that Australia do everything it can to make sure that the people of the Pacific understand their peril.

“China might come to these countries... Beijing is out for Beijing’s interests, not anyone else’s.”

Earlier, Mr Marles used his speech to commit to boosting the power of Australia’s military to counter aggression in the region and preserve an “inclusive regional order”.

While not naming China specifically, Mr Marles said the Indo-Pacific was a challenging strategic environment, alluding to Beijing’s signing of a security pact with the Solomon Islands earlier this year.

He also made reference to fears China would seek to reincorporate Taiwan by force, a known goal of President Xi Jinping.

Mr Marles has called on the US-Australia alliance to work closely together to maintain the world order.

Defence Minister Richard Marles has used a major speech in Washington to push for closer military ties between the two countries amid the rising threat of China. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“We can’t afford to stand still … In the years ahead, the US-Australia alliance will have to work in not only a challenging environment in the Indo-Pacific, but a more effective military power aimed at avoiding a catastrophic failure of deterrence,” Mr Marles said.

“Events in Europe underline the risks we face when one country’s determined military build-up convinced its leader that the potential benefit of conflict was worth the risk.

“I want to underline … that Australia will do its share. (We) are resolved that Australia will take greater responsibility for (our) own security.

“We will make the investment necessary to increase the range and lethality of the Australian Defence Force so that it is able to hold potential adversary forces and infrastructure at risk further from Australia

While in Washington, Mr Marles will meet his counterpart, Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, and other senior US military figures.

Both Mr Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong have made strident steps in thawing the diplomatic freeze with China, having both met their counterparts. Picture: Supplied / Department of Defence

Mr Marles’ speech comes a month after he met with his Chinese counterpart, and days after Foreign Minister Penny Wong met with her China’s Foreign Minister for the first time since 2019, in a sign diplomatic relations may be thawing.

Senator Wong said she had had a “frank” discussion with Yi Wang, but the Chinese Foreign Ministry released a list of four demands it requires Australia to satisfy if relations were to really improve.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australia “doesn’t respond to demands”.

“We respond to our own national interest,” he said.

“I’ll say this. We will co-operate with China where we can. I want to build good relations with all countries.

“But, we will stand up for Australia’s interests when we must.”

Mr Marles also used his speech to declare climate change a “national security issue”

“It’s a threat from which no one and no country is immune, and it is a threat that demands action,” he said.

It comes as Mr Albanese and Senator Wong head to Fiji for the Pacific Islands Forum, where climate change and China are set to be the biggest items on the agenda.

The forum is without Kiribati, however, who pulled out last minute after accusing other Pacific countries of breaking a “gentleman’s agreement” to hand the Secretary-General position to their candidate.

When asked whether there was concern China would “sweep in” and seek to do a security deal with the Pacific nation, Senator Wong said Australia was working with Fiji and the forum as a whole to facilitate a reconciliation.

“Where things are with Kiribati, we need to keep the door open and continue to work towards reconciliation,” she said.