Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has expressed Australia’s support for the leaders’ statement coming from the G7 summit against China asserting its disputed claims in the Indo-Pacific region through force and coercion. “We have said for some time that China’s activity, and we expressed concern for ourselves as well, the chafing of one of our aircraft,…

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has expressed Australia’s support for the leaders’ statement coming from the G-7 summit against China asserting its disputed claims in the Indo-Pacific region through force and coercion. “We have said for some time that China’s activity, and we expressed concern for ourselves as well, the chafing of one of our aircraft,…

Australia looks set to add another layer to its growing “porcupine” of defences amid increasing tensions from Beijing in the Indo-Pacific region. The Defence Department has confirmed the government is considering the purchase of nearly $1 billion (US$700 million) worth of sea mines that will be deployed in the nation’s waters. “Defence is accelerating the…

Australia is open to further diplomatic meetings with Beijing, with Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles indicating the door was still open to more discussions. Marles said there was a long way to go before regular communication with China restarted, but noted that resumption of ministerial talks was an important first step. The defence minister spoke…

Australia’s Defence department says one of its maritime surveillance aircraft was intercepted by a Chinese fighter warplane during routine activity in international airspace in the South China Sea region last month. The Australian government has raised concerns about the incident with the Chinese government. “Defence advises that on 26 May 2022, a RAAF P-8 maritime…

Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles on Sunday raised concerns about a “dangerous” incident in which a Chinese aircraft intercepted a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) routine flight over waters that China is disputing in the South China Sea. Marles, who is also deputy prime minister, said on June 5 that on May 26, the J-16…

The emergence of a more authoritarian and militarising Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has transformed Australia into a crucial component of America’s defence plans to maintain its influence over the Pacific. John Blaxland, professor of international security and intelligence studies at the Australian National University, told The Epoch Times that middle powers were stepping up as the…

The arming of Australian fighter jets and naval ships will be accelerated with new long-range strike weapons under a recently announced AU$3.5 billion (US$2.64 billion) plan. The federal government on April 5 released details of the plan which will see Australian defence forces armed with missiles that can strike targets from 900 kilometres away. “The…

Former South Australian Senator Nick Xenophon is busy defending his previous role providing legal work—and occasional public advocacy—on behalf of Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei. Xenophon announced a week earlier that he would be running for the Australian Senate against former colleague Rex Patrick, who took Xenophon’s place when he retired from Parliament in 2017. The…

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has warned of “very real risks” of conflict involving Russian forces along the Ukrainian border, at the same time, he called out Beijing for not denouncing Moscow for inciting tensions in the region. Morrison revealed that on the evening of Feb. 14, he met with the National Security Committee of…