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The People’s Republic of China has encouraged Australia not to use the country as an “excuse for military build-up”, after the Defence Strategic Review was released on Monday.
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The Defence Strategic Review (DSR) was unveiled by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Defence Minister Richard Marles, and Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy on Monday, 24 April.
The cost of the DSR over the forward estimates is expected to be around $19 billion as funding is made available for long-range strike capability, recruitment, northern bases, workforce changes, and new technologies.
PRC Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said military spending should not be justified by a “China threat” narrative, when asked about the DSR during a regular press conference on 24 April.
“China pursues a defensive national defence policy and stays committed to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific and the wider world,” she said.
“We do not pose a challenge to any country. We hope certain countries will not use China as an excuse for military build-up and will refrain from hyping up the ‘China threat’ narrative.”
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said this week’s recommendations and funding announcements work towards ensuring the ADF has the capability they need to keep Australians safe.
“The Defence Strategic Review, and the government’s response, is about maintaining peace, security, and prosperity in our region,” he said.
“There are a lot of tough decisions which need to be made, but in doing so, we are making them in the best interest of our Defence Force and our nation.”
Deputy Prime Minister Marles has previously said Chinese militarisation in the South China Sea is intended to deny the legitimacy of neighbouring claims by force, during a speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue defence meeting in Singapore in June last year.
At that time, he said the PRC has the largest and most ambitious military build-up since the end of the Second World War, which provokes uncertainty in its Indo-Pacific neighbours.
Coinciding with the release of the DSR, the PRC recently celebrated the 74th founding anniversary of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy on 23 April.
On the same day, China’s newest and third aircraft carrier, Fujian, began conducting power and mooring tests after being launched in June last year. It will continue sea trials before completing combat effectiveness to be added to the PLA Navy.
The PLA Navy also celebrated the new Type 055 guided-missile destroyer, Xianyang, which was officially commissioned in March this year. The ship is China’s latest of eight Type 055 destroyers with a 130mm main gun, vertical launching system, and anti-submarine weapons system.
