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Australia Announces Rise in Spending for Military Australia Announces Rise in Spending for Military
(35 minutes later)
SYDNEY, Australia — Responding to the military challenge from China, the Australian government on Thursday announced a robust increase in military spending, including the biggest expansion to its navy since World War II. SYDNEY, Australia — Responding to the military challenge from China, the Australian government on Thursday announced a robust increase in military spending, including the biggest expansion to its navy since World War II.
A defense white paper issued by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s government said 12 new submarines, 12 combat patrol vessels and nine antisubmarine frigates would be added to the current fleet.A defense white paper issued by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s government said 12 new submarines, 12 combat patrol vessels and nine antisubmarine frigates would be added to the current fleet.
Over all, 5,000 more personnel would be recruited for the Australian military and military spending would be increased to 2 percent of the country’s gross domestic product by 2021, in keeping with a pledge that Australia made to the United States as part of its commitment to share defense responsibilities in the Asia-Pacific region.Over all, 5,000 more personnel would be recruited for the Australian military and military spending would be increased to 2 percent of the country’s gross domestic product by 2021, in keeping with a pledge that Australia made to the United States as part of its commitment to share defense responsibilities in the Asia-Pacific region.
As America’s closest ally in the region, Australia works with Washington on military operations and intelligence matters, and it has promised the Obama administration that it will invest in a stronger military.As America’s closest ally in the region, Australia works with Washington on military operations and intelligence matters, and it has promised the Obama administration that it will invest in a stronger military.
Mr. Turnbull called the assessment in the document a “clear-eyed and unsentimental appraisal of our strategic environment.” Mr. Turnbull called the assessment in the document a “cleareyed and unsentimental appraisal of our strategic environment.”
The increases would stop the decline in Australia’s military capacities, and make its forces “potent and agile,” with the ability to be more commanding in the skies, on the seas and beneath the seas, he said. The increases would stop the decline in Australia’s military capacities and make its forces “potent and agile,” with the ability to be more commanding in the skies, on the seas and beneath the seas, he said.
The Australian Navy would remain relatively small even after the new acquisitions, but it is considered technically advanced and analysts say the expansion would cement its role as the most capable navy south of Japan, where the United States Seventh Fleet is based.The Australian Navy would remain relatively small even after the new acquisitions, but it is considered technically advanced and analysts say the expansion would cement its role as the most capable navy south of Japan, where the United States Seventh Fleet is based.
Looking forward, the white paper, a document compiled by the Australian military authorities every few years to give the government guidance, said that the United States would remain the dominant power in Asia-Pacific region at least until 2035.Looking forward, the white paper, a document compiled by the Australian military authorities every few years to give the government guidance, said that the United States would remain the dominant power in Asia-Pacific region at least until 2035.
But China, the paper warned, will “have a major impact on the Indo-Pacific region to the year 2035.”But China, the paper warned, will “have a major impact on the Indo-Pacific region to the year 2035.”
Australia maintains a strong economic relationship with China, which is by far its biggest trading partner, particularly in mining. Concerns about annoying Beijing led to some tempering of the language in the document about the military challenge from China, analysts said, but there were pointed references to China’s recent behavior in the South China Sea.Australia maintains a strong economic relationship with China, which is by far its biggest trading partner, particularly in mining. Concerns about annoying Beijing led to some tempering of the language in the document about the military challenge from China, analysts said, but there were pointed references to China’s recent behavior in the South China Sea.
The government was “particularly concerned” about the “unprecedented pace and scale” of land reclamation by the Chinese in the South China Sea, the document said.The government was “particularly concerned” about the “unprecedented pace and scale” of land reclamation by the Chinese in the South China Sea, the document said.
That reference was to the nearly 3,000 acres of land that China has added to atolls to make large artificial islands capable of accommodating military aircraft and equipment in the South China Sea. The Pentagon has said that China has placed radar facilities on disputed islands in the strategic sea lanes, as well surface-to-air-missile batteries. That reference was to the nearly 3,000 acres of land that China has added to atolls to make large artificial islands capable of accommodating military aircraft and equipment in the South China Sea. The Pentagon has said that China has placed radar facilities on disputed islands in the strategic sea lanes, as well as surface-to-air-missile batteries.
“Though small, the Australian Navy packs a punch because of its high-tech capabilities,” said Peter Jennings, the executive director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute in Canberra, Australia’s capital. Mr. Jennings called the expansion “ambitious” but said the funding plan was “believable.”“Though small, the Australian Navy packs a punch because of its high-tech capabilities,” said Peter Jennings, the executive director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute in Canberra, Australia’s capital. Mr. Jennings called the expansion “ambitious” but said the funding plan was “believable.”
A previous government had called for 12 new submarines, doubling the current fleet, but failed to guarantee the funding, Mr. Jennings said.A previous government had called for 12 new submarines, doubling the current fleet, but failed to guarantee the funding, Mr. Jennings said.
The Obama administration is likely to be pleased that Mr. Turnbull, who recently replaced a more conservative prime minister, Tony Abbott, retained the strong defense posture planned by Mr. Abbott, said Michael J. Green, senior vice president for Asia at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, in Washington.The Obama administration is likely to be pleased that Mr. Turnbull, who recently replaced a more conservative prime minister, Tony Abbott, retained the strong defense posture planned by Mr. Abbott, said Michael J. Green, senior vice president for Asia at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, in Washington.
Mr. Turnbull is known for his strong interest in maintaining Australia’s economic relations with China, and it was reassuring, Mr. Green said, that the new prime minister was committed to a strong defense.Mr. Turnbull is known for his strong interest in maintaining Australia’s economic relations with China, and it was reassuring, Mr. Green said, that the new prime minister was committed to a strong defense.
Particularly important, Mr. Green said, is the decision to buy 12 new submarines, which, with a fleet of F-35 fighter jets that the Australians have ordered from the United States, would protect the sea lanes to the north of Australia.
“Australia’s decision to go for the fifth-generation F-35 fighters and the submarines suggests the government wants a capability to go against the most capable adversary in the region, China,” Mr. Green said by telephone.
The diesel-powered submarines would be fast and quiet and would help keep adversaries far away, he added. “I think Beijing will read between the lines and won’t be happy,” he said of the white paper.
Mr. Green said the United States would like to see Australia buy the submarines from Japan, one of three countries vying for the contract to be completed later this year. A purchase from Japan, a strategic competitor with China — rather than France or Germany — would send an appropriate signal to the region, he said, and the Japanese submarines would allow for better interoperability with United States forces.