China 'sabre-rattling' of concern but threat of war unfounded, expert says

James Curran, a professor of contemporary historical past at Sydney University and a former federal authorities adviser, spoke with 9news.com.au after The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald newspapers revealed a particular report underneath the headline “Red Alert: War risk exposed”.

Growing Chinese energy has change into a dominating geo-political concern for Australia and different nations. (AP)

The report was based mostly on the findings of 5 nationwide safety consultants, who in a joint assertion stated they believed Australia “faces the prospect of armed conflict in the Indo-Pacific within three years”, and the nation was unprepared for such a struggle.

It additionally pointed to a transfer by China in opposition to the self-governing territory of Taiwan as a possible set off for battle involving China, the US and its allies corresponding to Australia.

Beijing regards Taiwan as a part of the mainland and China’s President Xi Jinping has stated he would by no means rule out the usage of pressure to attain “reunification”.

But Curran stated there was no proof from authoritative sources supporting the declare of a possible struggle by 2026, or that the federal authorities was blind to the potential menace from China.

The “Red Alert” findings had been based mostly on ”the crudest type of realism that ironically could potentially bring on the war no one wants to see”, Curran stated.

China President Xi Jinping has not dominated out the usage of pressure to reunify the self governing territory of Taiwan with the mainland. (AP)

But he harassed Australia should recognise rising Chinese assertiveness within the Indo-Pacific as a possible menace and didn’t again any type of “appeasement” to Beijing.

“The sabre-rattling by Xi in Beijing is of concern,” Curran stated.

“And any war between China and the US would have disastrous consequences for East Asia.”

His feedback come because the federal authorities prepares its response to a landmark defence strategic evaluate by the previous Australian Defence Force chief Angus Houston and the previous Labor defence minister Stephen Smith.

The authorities response is due subsequent month earlier than the May federal price range that’s anticipated to incorporate an increase in defence spending.

On the diplomatic entrance, Australia has labored to rebuild extra secure relations with China, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese assembly XI on the sidelines of a G20 summit late final yr and Foreign Minister Penny Wong holding a collection of conferences together with her Chinese counterparts.

HMAS Ballarats embarked MH-60R helicopter flies in formation with a United State Navy MH-60R, off the coast of Queensland, during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2021. — The federal authorities is getting ready its response to a landmark defence evaluate. (LSIS Ernesto Sanchez / Department of Defence)

Curran stated the Albanese authorities working for extra secure relations, whereas striving to enhance Australia’s defence functionality, had unsettled some “hawkish” commentators.

“There is bi-partisan consensus that Australia wants to ramp up the nation’s defences,” Curran stated.

“Albanese has said there is no way Australia will not increase defence spending.”

Curran additionally stated Australia had a task to play in encouraging Washington and Beijing to resolve their points, notably over Taiwan.

“There is a role for statecraft and developing guard rails against conflict … things like (former prime minister) Kevin Rudd has put forward,” he stated.