Al-anwar Newspaper English news in Australia
Australia says it will significantly increase military spending and focus on the Indo-Pacific region amid rising tensions between the US and China.
PM Scott Morrison pledged A$270bn (£150bn; $186bn) to Australia›s arms budget over 10 years – a 40% boost.
He said Australia would acquire long-range missiles and other capabilities to «deter» future conflicts.
It was necessary because the region was the «focus of the dominant global contest of our age», he added.
Mr Morrison named several areas of tension including the border between India and China, and conflict over the South China Sea and East China Sea.
It follows deteriorating relations between Australia and China – which are widely seen to be at their worst in decades.
What is Australia spending money on?
The new defence capability budget – about 2% of GDP – replaces a previous decade-long strategy, set only in 2016, which had set aside A$195bn.
Mr Morrison said much spending would go to upgrading arms and equipment.
Australia will purchase from the US Navy up to 200 long-range anti-ship missiles, which can travel up to 370km (229 miles). It will also invest in developing a hypersonic weapons system – missiles which can travel thousands of kilometres.
