The Australian Strategic Policy Institute warns that even with a $50 billion increase in the budget, the country will still be vulnerable to hostilities in the Indo-Pacific region. According to the institute’s latest report, the government’s plan to add $50 billion to defense spending over the next decade will not allow Australia to quickly scale up its defense capabilities in the event of a regional threat. Immediate funding is needed to ensure rapid increases in capabilities for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) if the region deteriorates quickly.
The report emphasizes that the funding announced in the budget is aimed at strengthening the ADF’s ability to fight in the next decade but additional funding is still required. The institute highlights that the warning time before any conflict has effectively shrunk to zero, and the government’s urgency in rhetoric is not being matched by action in defense investment.
The report also cautions that if war were to break out within the next 10 years, the ADF would essentially be fighting with the force it currently has. The government’s defense investment blueprint includes major new capabilities that are two decades away from being fully fielded, with shorter-term enhancements not expected until the 2030s.
Amid increased aggression from Beijing, the report comes as China asserts its claim over Taiwan and conducts military maneuvers around the island. In response, members of the Five Power Defence Arrangement have agreed to conduct more complex military drills in the region involving advanced aircraft and surveillance technology.
Defense Minister Richard Marles defends the government’s spending plans and shift towards projecting Australian power in the Pacific, stating that the nation is prepared to meet future challenges. Additional funding of $5.7 billion over the next four years has been allocated for navy operations and long-range strike capabilities.
At an international security summit, Marles emphasized Australia’s relevance in the region and warned of provocative actions by the Chinese military. China’s Defense Minister Dong Jun asserted that Taiwan would never be independent, prompting discussions between the Australian and Chinese military officials. Please provide a sentence or passage for me to rewrite.
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