On 26 April 2023, I have written an article in The China Story, suggesting the implications of China’s recent institutional reforms in technology research and Xi Jinping’s speech on speeding up military capability building. I also addresses the impact of AUKUS as deterrence of China’s military rise.
Australia must take China’s military rise seriously, but it is not helpful to assume this will lead to war. Instead, Canberra should approach this comprehensively and cautiously, and develop a clearer understanding of China’s military rise under Xi Jinping as well as its strategic goals and institutional reforms. There also needs to be a wider and more constructive public debate about the best ways to respond to China’s rise and safeguard Australia’s security in the broadest sense of the term.