China’s defence posture and Australian interests

A U.S. military photographer takes a picture of Chinese military officers near a no photography sign at the exercise headquarters of the 1st Mechanized Infantry Division of the PLA during a visit by U.S. Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in Hangzhou, eastern China, Tuesday, July 12, 2011. (Photo: AAP)

Author: Malcolm Fraser, former Prime Minister of Australia

We frequently question China’s military build-up without paying regard to China’s own circumstances. Their nuclear armoury, for example, is not much larger than Israel’s and probably on par with Britain and France.

So far it has only been a deterrent force in fixed silos. But for such a deterrent force to be effective it would need to be housed in submarines whose location cannot be easily found. Read more…