Australia to
boost military might: Aussie Govt
Australia will spend more than 70 billion US dollars boosting its
defences over the next 20 years in response to a regional military
build-up and global shifts in power, the government said.
A long-term strategic blueprint for the future of Australia's
armed forces warned that war could be possible in the Asia-Pacific
region in the next two decades, as emerging powers such as China
flexed their military might.
The United States would continue its military dominance and be
an "indispensable" ally for Australia, the defence white paper
said.
But as emerging or resurgent powers such as China, India and
Russia tested US primacy, the paper said there was "a small but
still concerning possibility of growing confrontation between some
of these powers."
"China will be the strongest Asian military power, by a
considerable margin," the paper said. "A major power of China's
stature can be expected to develop a globally significant military
capability befitting its size.
"But the pace, scope and structure of China's military
modernisation have the potential to give its neighbours cause for
concern if not carefully explained, and if China does not reach out
to others to build confidence regarding its military plans," it
said.
If it did not take these steps, the paper said, there would be
"a question in the minds of regional states about the long-term
strategic purpose of its force development plans, particularly as
the modernisation appears potentially to be beyond the scope of
what would be required for a conflict over Taiwan.
"China will have even more interest in convincing regional
countries that its rise will not diminish their sovereignty," the
paper said.
Greater engagement with Beijing was essential for encouraging
transparency about Chinese military capabilities and intentions,
and securing greater cooperation in areas of shared interest, the
paper said.
China's Premier Wen Jiabao in March vowed to modernise his
nation's military across the board, asking legislators for a 15.3
percent increase in defence spending for 2009 to 472.9 billion yuan
(69 billion dollars) -- double 2006 funding levels.
The global financial crisis was likely to accelerate a shift of
power to the Asia-Pacific, and regional security would pivot on how
strategic dynamics were managed between the US, China and Japan,
the blueprint said.
A major conflict on the Korean peninsula remained a possibility,
and the paper said the collapse of North Korea could not be ruled
out, while Myanmar remained a "serious challenge."
An escalation in tensions between India and Pakistan was also of
"significant concern," and the paper said Islamist extremism would
pose a direct threat to Australia and its interests.
The paper reiterated Canberra's commitment to the conflict in
Afghanistan, which it said could endure another decade or
longer.
Canberra will acquire long-range cruise missiles, double its
submarine fleet to 12 and buy 100 F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jets
and eight new warships under the plan, titled "Force 2030."
"Force 2030 will mean the best fighter jets, the most versatile
armoured vehicles and the most sophisticated submarines available
to defend Australias national security," said Prime Minister Kevin
Rudd at the report's Sydney launch.
The Sino-focused strategy, which was widely leaked to the press,
was met with unease in Beijing, where it was reportedly perceived
by some as Australia aligning itself with the United States against
China.
"China definitely will not accept Australia adopting the
so-called 'China threat' thesis," Beijing professor Shi Yinhong
told the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper on Friday.
"(China) will have to publicly criticise (the paper)," added
Yinhong, international relations specialist from the People's
University.
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