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Australia
OpinionComment
Imran Khalid
Imran Khalid

Opinion | Does Australia really want to be at the front line of US aggression against China?

  • The US is steering Australia towards becoming a bridgehead against China with AUSMIN promises of troops and help in producing guided missiles
  • Canberra must re-evaluate its commitment to the US Indo-Pacific strategy if it genuinely seeks peace, prosperity and regional stability

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A missile launch in northern Australia as part of Exercise Talisman Sabre, the largest combined training activity between the Australian Defence Force and the United States military, in Shoalwater Bay on July 22. Photo: AFP
Imran Khalid

As Australia and the United States work to deepen their military alliance, two major undertakings from the 33rd Australia-US Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN) are set to drastically affect the balance of peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific.

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One, the United States has pledged to augment its rotational troop presence at strategic military bases in Australia and send its nuclear-powered submarines on more frequent visits to the country. Two, the US has agreed to help cultivate Australia’s ability to make guided missiles.

These plans have sparked a maelstrom of media attention and public commentary. Despite this, Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles is optimistic and hopes to see the production of guided missiles start within two years. “Australia at this moment has no better friend than America,” he said.

With the protracted war in Ukraine, the capacity to produce arms, such as missiles, has become a focal point, given the critical implications for global military stockpiles and supplies. Washington, deeply entangled in the Ukraine crisis while also focused on deterring China, is anxious over the vulnerabilities exposed in its military machinery – which has invoked uncertainty about its ability to sustain its military prowess and influence on the world stage.

The Ukraine conflict has highlighted the paramount significance of a seamless and uninterrupted supply chain in modern warfare, especially for ground-to-ground missiles. The complexities of this crisis are making increasingly clear the indispensable role of well-functioning ammunition distribution in maintaining tactical advantage and strategic efficacy on the battlefield.

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It would appear the US aims to bolster its military capabilities by co-opting its Asia-Pacific allies into its defence industry production chain – ostensibly to address Ukraine’s ammunition shortage but, more crucially, to signal to Beijing its planning in waging a prolonged war in support of Taiwan if and when needed.
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