Let’s not forget Taiwan as we kowtow to China on trade
We run the risk of being called on to defend one of the few successful liberal democracies in the Indo-Pacific without a substantive military or intelligence relationship.
We run the risk of being called on to defend one of the few successful liberal democracies in the Indo-Pacific without a substantive military or intelligence relationship.
The best that can be said of the statements, declarations, compacts and media transcripts from Anthony Albanese’s meetings in Hiroshima is that they make a thin gruel.
The Albanese government’s mocked-up version of a public Defence Strategic Review and botched redesign of the Army will have been noted in Washington.
The Defence Strategic Review is a patched-together policy document, delivering no new money, a gaping wound in the Australian army, bucketloads of extra reviews and the delivery of vital equipment pushed years into the future.
A strategic plan for how the ADF will fight needs to shape equipment decisions. Without such a plan the army risks having a jumble of penny-packet capabilities with no clear focus.
This is not a time to hope the status quo will somehow survive. Australia is not a neutral observer here: we have a dog in the fight and need the region to join more actively in resisting Beijing.
Australia’s fundamental interest is to build tighter defence partnerships with like-minded democracies. Not attending NATO means we risk fighting alone.
Surely a review commissioned by a previous government can be handed to a new government?
AUKUS needs to be sold in the square of public opinion every day until the boats arrive. You can be certain its critics will only grow louder.
Anthony Albanese mustn’t close the defence ledger thinking ‘job done’. There is no more important task for his prime ministership than to ensure AUKUS’ delivery.
Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/peter-jennings/page/7