Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced an overhaul of Australia’s defense strategy and force structure, as the U.S. ally looks to counter an increasingly assertive China in an Indo-Pacific region he calls "the focus of the dominant global contest of our age.”
In a major speech delivered in Canberra on Wednesday, Morrison said that his government would spend 270 billion Australian dollars (¥20 trillion) in defense capability over the next decade, up from about AU$195 billion when the nation’s previous strategic overhaul was announced in 2016.
The spending will include Australia’s purchase of AGM-158C Long Range Anti-Ship Missiles from the U.S. Navy for about AU$800 million, tripling the range of its maritime strike capability to about 230 miles (370 kilometers).
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.