Australia’s defences must be ready in two years. Here’s what to do

This article appeared in The Strategist and was also published in The Australian

Michael Pezzullo is a former deputy secretary of defence and was secretary of home affairs until November 2023. This article is also  published by The Australian.

Image of a USAF B-1B Lancer bomber and an RAAF F/A-18F Super Hornet (top picture): Department of Defence.

Image of Royal Australian Navy sailors on HMAS Arunta watching the Chinese replenishment ship Weishanhu and frigate Hengyang in the Tasman Sea (second picture): Department of Defence:.

Map of Australia, East Asia and the Pacific (third picture) Google Earth.

Image of a Chinese H-6 bomber with two fighters (last picture): Chinese Ministry of National Defense.

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Australia’s defences must be ready in two years. Here’s what to do | The Strategist

ED: I have provided a brief summary of this article.

China’s recent naval deployment near Australia served three strategic purposes: demonstrating its naval power, testing Australia’s response, and rehearsing potential wartime operations. The task group, led by a missile-equipped cruiser, likely simulated a seaborne missile strike on Australian infrastructure. Future wartime operations would involve a larger force, including submarines and bombers, exploiting gaps in Australia’s defences while US forces remained engaged elsewhere.

China’s military strategy aims to neutralise Australia’s value as a US staging area in a broader conflict. This includes missile strikes, submarine attacks, and securing control over strategic waterways. Australia’s response, initially downplaying the threat, ignored the deployment’s clear intent: intimidation and strategic rehearsal.

To counter China’s growing assertiveness, Australia must enhance surveillance, increase military readiness, and acquire long-range strike capabilities. This includes B-1B bombers, advanced missiles, naval reinforcements, and a stronger air force. Additionally, securing alliances with Papua New Guinea and the Philippines would extend Australia’s defensive reach.

While the likelihood of war remains low, Australia must prepare for future conflict scenarios. Without adequate preparation, it risks becoming vulnerable to coercion. The worsening strategic landscape demands urgent action to strengthen defence capabilities before China fully develops its offensive options.