China ‘wins from our retreat’ on Antarctic runway

China is the winner from Australia’s decision to drop plans for a year-round runway in Antarctica, say experts, who fear Beijing or Moscow will steal the strategic advantage.

The Wilkins ice runway will continue to be used after plans for a concrete runway were dropped.

China is the winner from Australia’s decision to drop plans for a year-round runway in Antarctica, say experts and backbenchers who fear Beijing or Moscow will steal the strategic advantage.

The Morrison government on Thursday dumped an ambitious plan – five years in the making – to build a 2.7km concrete runway near Australia’s Davis Research Station, to “revolutionise” Antarctic aviation, access and science.

Environment Minister Sussan Ley told The Australian the decision was based on the contentious project’s significant environmental impact, complexity and a cost blowout from $2.97bn to $4.8bn.

“We’re not doing this and no other country should do it, either,” Ms Ley said. “The impact on the environment is profound. And the cost and time extensions (also) meant it was not the right decision to go ahead.”

Ms Ley countered concerns, among strategic policy analysts and Coalition backbenchers, that the decision would erode Australia’s status as a leading Antarctic nation and see China build a similar project. She said Australia – which has a latent claim to 42 per cent of Antarctica – would announce “significant” increases in maritime, aviation, drone and satellite capacity on the continent.

This would include “mobile base stations”. “These things will give us reach into the (Antarctic interior), presence in the interior, presence along more of the coastline,” she said. “The strategic, environmental and scientific aims (of the runway) can all be achieved in alternative ways.”

The Bob Brown Foundation hailed the decision. “It’s a huge backdown by the government and a win for the bulk of Australian Antarctic scientists who opposed 115,000 tonnes of concrete being transported south to build the biggest human intrusion ever on the wilderness continent,” said BBF Antarctic campaigner Alistair Allan.

Deakin University strategic studies lecturer Elizabeth Buchanan told The Australian the “shocking” decision would “delight” and embolden China, which had begun but halted its own sealed runway project.

Dr Buchanan said Australia had effectively given imprimatur to the concept of a paved runway, only to retreat to allow others to steal the initiative.

“That will no doubt be used against Canberra by Beijing as soon as we raise any displeasure at (similar) activity that I think we will see,” she said. “We are going to see a fair bit of delight in Beijing at our decision.

“China has the capacity to build it quicker. They clearly have the strategic intent … If we thought the Port of Darwin was something to squabble over, (consider) unimpeded access to a strategic continent with 70 per cent of the world’s remaining freshwater, fisheries, precious minerals, hydrocarbons, and unrestricted reach into the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans.

“This was an opportunity to secure that capability…I do think it is something we will look back on and say ‘that’s the point we gave away the game’.”

Tasmanian Liberal senator Eric Abetz urged his government to invest heavily in other “strategic and capability support infrastructure” in Antarctica. “At a time when China and Russia are rapidly expanding their footprints on the ice continent, it is absolutely essential that we don’t loosen our foothold,” he said.