China’s furious reaction as Australia gets US nuclear-capable bombers

A furious Beijing has blasted reports of the US gifting Australia nuclear-capable bombers, prompting a concerning warning from China.

Australia has been issued an ominous threat, after China lashed out at reports of the US sending nuclear-capable bombers to the Northern Territory.

According to an investigation by the ABC’s Four Cornersthat aired on Monday, Washington has drawn up plans to build a dedicated a “squadron operations facility” at the Tindal air base south of Darwin that will house “six B-52s”.

These aircraft are capable of delivering both nuclear and conventional weapons, with a combat range of more than 14,000km.

The news has prompted a furious response from Beijing, with the former editor-in-chief of the CCP-run Global Times issuing an ominous warning to Australia.

Commentator Hu Xijin said Australia would need to “bear the risks” of this move.

“The PLA’s Dongfeng missiles definitely fly faster than the B-52 bombers,” he wrote on Twitter.

“If Australia wants to become a “big Guam,” then it must bear the corresponding strategic risks.”

The PLA's Dongfeng missiles definitely fly faster than the B-52 bombers. If Australia wants to become a “big Guam,” then it must bear the corresponding strategic risks. pic.twitter.com/iK2CuyQaHH

— Hu Xijin 胡锡进 (@HuXijin_GT) October 31, 2022

There have even been warnings that accepting these bombers could “trigger a regional arms race”.

Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Zhao Lijian said by sending the bombers to Australia, the US had “increased regional tensions, seriously undermined regional peace and stability, and may trigger a regional arms race”.

“Defence and security co-operation between any countries should be conducive to regional peace and stability and not target or harm the interests of third parties,” he told reporters in Beijing.

Mr Zhao said Beijing was urging all the countries concerned to “abandon the old Cold War zero-sum thinking and narrow geopolitical concepts”.

The focus should instead be on contributing more to regional peace and stability and enhancing “mutual trust”, he said.

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A B-52 bomber conducts a ceremonial flyover above the Pentagon. Picture: Paul J. Richards/AFP

A man poses in front of a Dongfeng-41 intercontinental ballistic missile in China. Picture: Noel Celis/AFP

Bombers a show of ‘nuclear deterrence’ to China

Documents obtained by Four Corners show the planned facilities, which will include a parking area and adjoining maintenance centre, will be used for “deployed B-52 squadrons”.

“The ability to deploy US Air Force bombers to Australia sends a strong message to adversaries about our ability to project lethal air power,” the US Air Force told the program.

According to the program, the Tindal air base plan — expected to cost up to $US100 million and be completed by 2026 — is part of a much larger upgrade of defence assets across northern Australia, including the Pine Gap spy base.

The Department of Defence confirmed the US was “funding a project to construct an aircraft parking apron at RAAF Base Tindal, which is capable of accommodating up to six B-52 aircraft and other aircraft types”.

“The project provides functionality for Australian Defence Force use and can also host other aircraft types, enhancing our capacity to train with and host international partners,” a spokesman said.

“United States bomber aircraft, including B-52s, have been visiting Australia since the early 1980s and conducting training in Australia since 2005. Any future rotations of US B-52 aircraft in Australia would be consistent with the longstanding objectives of the US Force Posture Initiatives, which include improving interoperability between Australian and US armed forces through training and exercises.”

Anti-nuclear activist Richard Tanter from the Nautilus Institute told Four Corners the move greatly expanded Australia’s commitment to any US war with China.

“It’s a sign to the Chinese that we are willing to be the tip of the spear,” he said.

“It’s very hard to think of a more open commitment that we could make. A more open signal to the Chinese that we are going along with American planning for a war with China.”

Dr Malcolm Davis, a senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, argued it was a “sensible move” given the rising risk of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan.

“It’s important that Australia step up to support US extended nuclear deterrence in new ways, to strengthen integrated deterrence in the Indo-Pacific, and to burden share with the US to dissuade China from using force to resolve territorial disputes,” Dr Davis wrote on Twitter.

“Hosting B-52s represents a visible step of Australian commitment to the US-Australia strategic alliance that is so vital to our defence and national security.”

The plans were hinted at in last year’s annual Australia-United States Ministerial (AUSMIN) meetings, where it was agreed for “enhanced air co-operation” which would see “rotational deployment of US aircraft of all types in Australia”, although B-52s were not explicitly mentioned.