Military of China, force comment.
Military of China, force comment.

data for : Australian Navy Fleet
data for: the Royal Australian Navy’s submarine force

4 14, Australian Institute of Chi Ku Luoyi (LowyInstitute) open access article published scholar Hugh White, said the Chinese economy may be in the next few decade to catch up with the United States, and its strategic and political forces will increase as well, will hit the U.S. in the Asia Pacific region has been maintained for four decades of leadership. Therefore, the proposed White Australia to abandon its traditional “balance of power” (BalancedForce) concept, increase input in national defense, to build a strong navy and air force submarine force to respond to China’s rise may bring strategic risk.

White said that although it is not known whether smooth sailing to the rise of China, but Australia must prepare early, because the armed forces of the construction work often takes years of time, once China’s successful rise, then Australia Related ready too late. So, now Australia’s defense policy should be made clear and how to better respond to future threats decisions. First, the Australian armed forces need to respond to its various risk assessment. In response, some people believe that the future problems such as global warming and terrorism and other security issues, to compare to traditional military tasks more important. The Australian officials argued that despite these problems are more serious, but its armed forces to solve such problems is not the main, and the traditional military tasks are still very important, and it is still the focus of defense planning. Australian defense plan should give priority to that country and the Asia Pacific region in the vicinity of the strategic risks facing.

White believes that, over the past few decades, Australia’s strategic approach to Asia has been controlled by the United States, and its attitude to the future, will depend on the position of the U.S. recession and China’s rising status of the result. White said that in practice, the biggest threat facing Australia, not from China itself, but the relative decline of U.S. power will make the strategic competition between the Asian power balance, which will improve Australia’s national interests and territorial security is facing a number of military the probability of the threat. However, if the United States, China, Japan and India to negotiate a way to avoid the escalation of strategic competition, then Australia will be able to avoid the threat. However, if problems exist between countries are not satisfactorily resolved, then Australia will face a variety of new strategic threats. In this way, no matter what choice to make in Australia, will face its 60 years since the 20th century has been the most challenging strategic threat.

White said, in response to these threats, Australian Asia-Pacific region need to understand the situation will change and develop its national security and what impact the Australian armed forces how to protect their interests and what they need to take kind of action. He believes the Australian armed forces sufficient to achieve over the past decade the government for its strategic objectives set, not to mention the future may be further expanded the variety of tasks. Australian Army’s too small, not like the Australian government, as expected, perform stability operations in the neighboring region. Moreover, the size of the Australian Air Force and Navy also is too small, equipment is also lagging behind, unable to bear the Australian Government hopes that it can assume various responsibilities. In addition, since Australia since the 1970s has been used since the “balance of power” concept, is now not enough to achieve its important strategic objectives.

White said that if the Asian competition becomes more intense, then, in order to provide the Australian Government to the future effective military support to protect their strategic interests, the Australian defense planning will focus on the need to put in the most effective military capabilities, which means that Australia do not need to be in the army and they need to make a choice. For the Army, its priority to expand the number of infantry battalions, in order to enhance their participation in stability operations and the ability of other low-intensity operations, particularly in the vicinity of Australia to carry out operations. To have such ability, the Army will be equipped with high-quality armored vehicles.

However, White said Australia should not be involved in most of the money into land or amphibious ground forces in combat, because just by ground forces, then in Asia, Australia can never have a major strategic impact. In the conventional conflict, Australia’s strategic focus will be on the air and sea power. He believes that Australia should invest in the formation of a larger submarine fleet – this is the most effective tools for naval blockade – and stop the construction of extremely fragile and very expensive surface ships. The Air Force will need to have a powerful air combat and strike capability, response may be the 2020s and 1930s appear powerful enemies. This means that the Australian Air Force aircraft should be at least the performance of the Joint Strike Fighter rather, so Australia is now a need for more such aircraft procurement plans.

Finally, White said Australia’s military build-up is directly related to the future of Australia’s position in Asia. He pointed out that, in fact, back in the late 19th century, Australia had faced the same challenge: the decline of the late 19th century England, after World War II emergence of modern Asia, Australia order to adapt to new environments, have redefined their world status. Now, Australia is facing the same challenges, the government will soon introduce a new version of the Australian Defense White Paper is to begin to meet this challenge an important opportunity. (Spring)