The Paper's reporter Nan Boyi intern Wu Sifan
On July 1, local time, the Australian government announced that in order to cope with tensions in the Asia-Pacific region, the country will increase defense spending by $180 billion.
According to CNN reported on July 2, the Australian government released the "2020 National Defense Strategy Update" overview on the 1st, which shows that Australia's defense spending in the next 10 years will increase by about 40% compared with the 2016 10-year budget plan, that is, 186 billion US dollars (about 1314.741 billion yuan).
The increased budget will allow Australia to have a more sophisticated navy and air force and enhance its ammunition and fuel storage capabilities to improve its self-defence capabilities, the overview notes. It is reported that $800 million has been designated by the Australian government as the funding for the purchase of the AGM-158C long-range anti-ship missile from the United States, which shows that the missile has a range of up to 370 kilometers.
In addition, CNN reported that the Australian government will also explore how to establish a nationally operated satellite network to reduce the country's current dependence on the U.S. satellite network, while Australia also plans to expand its radar system to monitor movements in eastern Australia.
Speaking at the Australian Defence Academy in the capital Canberra on July 1, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australia was facing the toughest international situation before World War II and that "we need to prepare for a poorer, more dangerous and more chaotic post-pandemic era." At the same time, Morrison believes that the current international environment is increasing the "risk of miscalculation and even conflict", and the Asia-Pacific region is currently the "dominant focus of global competition".
Sam Logwin, director of the International Security Program at the Australian Lowy Institute in Sydney, warned that he was concerned that any move to develop a long-range strike capability could undermine regional relations, particularly Australia's relationship with its neighbour and regional partner, Indonesia.
Hugh Bridge, an expert at the Australian Institute for Strategic Policy Studies, told the media that the 2020 National Defence Strategy Update outlined that Australia's defense capabilities are shifting to offense, not just defending its own territory.
Editor-in-charge: Hu Zhenqing
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