Posted on 05/20/2009 9:09:04 PM PDT by bruinbirdman
Australia is conducting the biggest expansion of its navy since the Second World War and will spend an extra £35 billion on the armed forces over the next 20 years.
The latest defence White Paper recommends buying 100 advanced F-35 jet fighters and 12 powerful submarines equipped with cruise missiles, a capability which no other country in the region is believed to possess.
The "potential instability" caused by the emergence of China and India as major world powers was cited as the most pressing reason for this military build-up. In particular, Australian defence planners are believed to be concerned about China's growing naval strength and America's possible retreat as a global power in the decades ahead.
Chinese officials say their country's growing power threatens no-one. Behind the scenes, Beijing is thought to be unhappy about Australia's White Paper, with one Chinese academic saying it was "typical of a Western Cold War mentality".
But the Chinese navy has almost doubled the number of secret, long-distance patrols conducted by its submarines in the past year. The reach of its navy is extending into Australian waters. China is also acquiring new amphibious assault ships that can transport a battalion of troops.
Kevin Rudd, the prime minister, has explicitly denied that Australia is planning for a future war with China. But he said that his government would "make absolutely no apology" for taking whatever steps were needed to guarantee the country's security.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
how exactly are the Aussies suppose to compete with the largest manufacturer in the world
they better hope their nuke deterrent is stead fast
they wont be able to go toe to toe with china
I love those Aussies. BTW where is the liberal uproar over the expanding Chinese Military. Look what it’s leading to...a far east arms race!! C’mon libs...go to China and protest!!
Good for Australia!
Like Israel, they see what Obambi is doing, and realize that they can no longer rely upon America for their future security.
They see that they now have to take matters into their own hands.
We should equip the Australian subs with nuclear cruise missiles. It wouldn’t increase the chance of war..it would decrease it. Australia has a better understanding of Asia than any other democracy..they live there.
love those Aussies. BTW where is the liberal uproar over the expanding Chinese Military. Look what it’s leading to...a far east arms race!! C’mon libs...go to China and protest!!
________________________
Libs have no real convictions. They allow the US Military, which most of them hate, to protect them .
Waste of money. Australia playing superpower status. Its not like India or China is ever going to attack Australia esp now with Australia $300 billion in debt, in just 2 years
“We should equip the Australian subs with nuclear cruise missiles. It wouldn’t increase the chance of war..it would decrease it. Australia has a better understanding of Asia than any other democracy..they live there.”
Agreed. However there will be more screaming Chinese because of this than at a busy Saturday night at a Chinatown buffet.
I like the Australian people.
Their government, less so. They disarmed all their damn people. Under the control of the brits who did the same thing. And the canadians who were told to do the same thing.
I guess another of those “benefits” doing Free Trade with Communist China....Free Traders keep financing the ChiCom military
Actually that's not true. The NRA played fast and loose with the facts about Australia. While firearms are regulated at the Federal level in Australia, one can buy almost the same weapons we can here.
L
China has a couple of billion, that’s two thousand million.
Indonesia has 240 million people. That’s a big screaming horde that would like to head south.
Australia has 21 million people.
One kind of doesn’t blame the Ozzies for wanting some extra bullets.
I am embarrassed to see what our nation is becoming, as evidenced by Australia’s perception that it needs to defend itself as we recede.
However, if things hit the fan the Chinese could always opt for the nuclear option, although that would require a thoroughly negated US.
Although, with China becoming an increasingly important trade partner (arguably the most important for Australia), it may not need to fire a shot.
Anyways, this is a GREAT move for Australia, and it is extremely important for all free nations in the region to seriously beef up their military capabilities, which the Aussies are doing. Furthermore, they understand that in the future blind reliance on the US serving as their protective big brother can be fatal. Nations that have traditionally relied thus on the US REALLY NEED TO amp their own defensive capabilities, since it is quite possible that in the future the US will be facing its own problems and not be able to rush to the defence of its allies (at least on time). Taiwan is a nation that needs to seriously take this into consideration.
So, hurrah for Australia. However, in a worst case scenario what it has done will not be enough. In a decade or so China will have equipment that (to use the airforce) will be around 70-80% as capable as the best the RAAF have (in this case, the F-35s), but will also be many more than what the RAAF have (and having 3 times as many assets as your opponent has, even if your assets are only 75% as good, gives you a good chance for success).
Aye, but this is a good thing. We can’t do it all. That realization obviously hit home in Canberra.
“Nations that have traditionally relied thus on the US REALLY NEED TO amp their own defensive capabilities, since it is quite possible that in the future the US will be facing its own problems and not be able to rush to the defence of its allies (at least on time). Taiwan is a nation that needs to seriously take this into consideration.”
This is true, but only if the U.S. allows itself to “retreat” as a global power. There’s no reason it has to be this way, yet this is exactly what we’re doing to ourselve.s
“In a decade or so China will have equipment that (to use the airforce) will be around 70-80% as capable as the best the RAAF have (in this case, the F-35s)”
70-80%? No.
“but will also be many more than what the RAAF”
In ten years China will have not only aircraft 80% as capable as the F-35 but will have them in massive and overwhelming numbers?
No.
China will be greatly enhancing its numbers and quality, but there’s no reason to be engage in hyperbole about it.
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