Opposition minister calls for missiles to deter China

The shadow defence minister, Andrew Hastie (pictured below), called for Australia to develop and operate its own missiles, arguing that it needed greater deterrents given the “very bleak” strategic outlook, with a “rising China” displaying “revisionist and expansionist ambitions”.

The comments came after the foreign minister, Penny Wong, expressed deep concern about China’s launch of ballistic missiles into waters around Taiwan’s coastline, and the climate change minister, Chris Bowen, saying Australia would not shy away from calling China out.

Relations between the nations remain strained after Australia criticised China’s response to a US diplomatic visit to Taiwan as destabilising and over the top.