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Ben PackhamForeign affairs and defence correspondent

Ben Packham is The Australian’s foreign affairs and defence correspondent. He has been a journalist for more than 25 years and is the 2024 recipient of the prestigious Lowy Institute Media Award.

@bennpackham

Ben Packham

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exclusiveDefence

Off target in $1.5bn fighter shortfall

Taxpayers have paid for $1.5bn worth of capabilities on the nation’s Joint Strike Fighters that won’t be delivered.

Ben Packham

AUSMIN talksNation

Marise Payne and Linda Reynolds arrive in Washington ahead of AUSMIN 2020 wearing protective masks.

US wants Australia to step up on China

The US and Australia will discuss a step up in Australian participation in US naval missions in the Indo-Pacific at high-level talks in Washington.

Ben Packham

US envoy applaudsNation

Royal Australian Air Force Air Refuelling Operator, Sergeant Daniel Jorgensen from No. 33 Squadron, refuels an United States Air Force B-1 Lancer aircraft from a Royal Australian Air Force KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft above Guam as part of an Australia/US interoperability mission during the Regional Presence Deployment. *** Local Caption *** The Royal Australian Air Force has deployed an Air Task Group to Andersen Air Force Base in Guam as part of the Air Phase of a planned regional deployment. Approximately 150 personnel, along with strike and surveillance aircraft from RAAF Bases Amberley and Williamtown will integrate with the Maritime Task Group and our regional partners in a wide range of activities, including bilateral and multilateral naval and air manoeuvres and military training serials. The Australia Defence Force is committed to strengthening the longstanding security partnerships across the Southeast Asia. Our relationships are based on mutual respect, trust and a shared vision for a secure, open, prosperous and resilient Indo-Pacific.

Send warships to South China Sea, PM told

Defence strategists urge Scott Morrison to greenlight freedom of navigation operations.

Ben Packham

tension risesNation

Chinese warships and fighter jets take part in a military display in the South China Sea in April. The U.S. defense bill bans China’s participation in 26-nation naval exercises until it stops militarizing islands in the area. PHOTO: CHINA STRINGER NETWORK/REUTERS

New beef: China warns Australia may be punished

Australia’s declaration that territorial claims in the South China Sea are illegal branded a reckless ‘provocation’ as Chinese hit back.

Ben Packham

dramatic moveNation

200704-N-ML137-1021 SOUTH CHINA SEA (July 4, 2020) An F/A-18E Super Hornet flies over the flight deck of the Navy's only forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), maintaining Ronald Reagan's tactical presence on the seas. Ronald Reagan is the flagship of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 5. The Nimitz and Ronald Reagan CSGs are conducting dual-carrier operations as the Nimitz Carrier Strike Force. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Samantha Jetzer/Released)

Australia declares China’s sea claims ‘illegal’

Australia has just dramatically raised the stakes in its worsening relationship with China in a major development at the UN.

Ben Packham

exclusivePolitics

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA-NCA NewsWire Photos JULY 21 2020The Prime Minister Scott Morrison and the Treasurer Josh Frydenberg during a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, talking about the future of the Job Seeker and job Keeper programs. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Ministers call out Beijing’s conduct

Australia has blasted Beijing’s “coercive conduct” in the South China Sea and its human rights record in Hong Kong. | WATCH

Ben Packham and Cameron Stewart

exportsPolitics

The Port Kembla Steelworks the home of Bluescope Steel and Colourbond in Wollongong, Monday, March 12, 2018. The Australian Government has secured an exemption from the recently announced U.S tariffs imposed on steel and aluminium recently announced by President Donald Trump. (AAP Image/Dean Lewins) NO ARCHIVING

Making hay from US metals exemptions

Australia’s exemption from Donald Trump’s steel and aluminium tariffs has seen our exports of the metals to the US almost double.

Ben Packham

EXCLUSIVEDefence

HMAS Ararat (right) and HMAS Bathurst follow HMAS Parramatta out of Darwin Harbour, NT. *** Local Caption *** Royal Australian Navy Helicopter Frigate HMAS Parramatta has returned to Australia after completing a three-month deployment incorporating South and South East Asia. The deployment showed Australia's commitment to our partners and to a secure and prosperous region.

Slower frigates build to raise cost

Australia’s next-generation future frigates could be built faster and more cheaply, but their construction is being deliberately slowed.

Ben Packham

Australia-US facilityNation

The Right Honourable Sir Rabbie Namaliu in Townsville to meet with members of YWAM to discuss expansion to their humanitarian project.

Manus base could pull PNG into conflict, ex-PM warns

A joint Manus Island naval base with Australia and the US may be inconsistent with Papua New Guinea’s foreign policy, former prime minister Sir Rabbie Namaliu has warned.

Ben Packham

CHINA TIESPolitics

Former Australian Prime Minister John Howard and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Picture: Kym Smith/AFP

‘Chinese belligerence’ forces defence spend

John Howard concedes China’s behaviour, growing military capabilities spurred Australia’s $270bn defence investment.

Ben Packham

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/ben-packham/page/186