Australia is to shift its defence policy to buy longer-range missiles, such as Himars, in order to counter the military threat posed by China.
he changes were triggered after the government released a review to reassess its defence priorities. The report noted that a “rise of the ‘missile age’ in modern warfare” made the country more vulnerable.
A billion-dollar programme to develop short-range howitzer artillery systems is likely to be scrapped in favour of acquiring longer-range Himars – a system used successfully in Ukraine to repel Russia’s invasion.
The review also notes that China’s military build-up is “now the largest and most ambitious of any country” since the end of World War II and that Beijing has not been transparent in clarifying its strategic intentions.
Australia must therefore “seek to avoid the highest level of strategic risk we now face as a nation: the prospect of major conflict in the region that directly threatens our national interest”, the review said.
The country “cannot waste any more time when it comes to acquiring critical defence capabilities”, said Richard Marles, Australia’s deputy prime minister and minister of defence.
In recent decades, Australia’s defence policy has focused on deterring and responding to possible low-level threats from smaller neighbours, an approach that is “no longer fit for purpose”.
Canberra will now delay or abandon defence spending of about A$7.8bn (€4.8bn) in order to redirect to new priorities.
One change is to reduce an order for infantry fighting vehicles from 450 to 129, savings that will help fund plans to arm Australia with Himars.
The Australian government will increase arms spending over the next decade, with a focus on improving its domestic production of munitions and building a more robust defence workforce.
The review also mentioned the importance of the Aukus deal, a trilateral security partnership finalised in March with the US and UK, in which the Australians acquired nuclear-powered submarines.
Canberra will also seek to deepen diplomatic and security partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region as part of plans to shore up its defences.
Putting in motion “the ambition of the review will require a whole-of-government effort, coupled with a significant financial commitment and major reform”, the government said.
Meanwhile, china’s foreign ministry said it respects the status of former Soviet member states as sovereign nations, distancing itself from comments by its envoy to Paris that triggered an uproar among European capitals.
Several EU foreign ministers had said comments by ambassador Lu Shaye – in which he questioned the sovereignty of Ukraine and other former Soviet states – were unacceptable.
Telegraph Media Group Limited [2023]