Latest news with #AustralianDefenceForce
Sky News AU
3 days ago
- Business
- Sky News AU
Top European general warns Albanese government over defence spending in face of China threat
A top military general in Europe has warned the Albanese government it needs to raise its defence capability in the face of ever-growing threats in the Pacific. Dutch General Onno Eichelsheim, visiting Australia for the annual Talisman Sabre war games hosted by the Australian Defence Force, said Australia needs to 'seriously' prepare for war. The Netherlands was among the swathe of NATO nations that recently lifted their military spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP. The Dutch defence chief said the Netherlands had responded to Russia's increased aggression in Europe and that countries in the Indo-Pacific must be wary of China as well. 'You should look at the facts that are around you … if Russia tells us that they want to have more influence, than take that seriously,' he said. 'And if you see in this case in this region - China building up - take it seriously and get ready for something that you hope will never happen. 'But if you prepare for war, you can avoid war and that's how we look at it.' General Eichelsheim said it was 'not about the percentage' but about the 'capabilities', a notion the Albanese government has openly expressed. However, the Dutch general insisted Australia needed to lift its capabilities and spending to ensure it could defend itself from a threat. Australia's defence budget has been forecast to reach only 2.33 per cent of GDP by 2033, which has frustrated the Trump administration. The Trump administration has been publicly frustrated by the Albanese government's resistance to increasing defence spending to 3.5 per cent requested by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Business
- Perth Now
‘Take it seriously': Huge China warning
Australia has been warned to take China's military build-up 'seriously', saying the threat of Beijing to the Indo-Pacific region is like the danger Russia poses to Europe. The Prime Minister spent much of last week touting Australia's trade, tourism and research offerings in Shanghai, Beijing and Chengdu. Securing peace through economic interdependence was a strategy the EU used with Russia following the collapse of the Soviet Union – a ploy that ultimately came back to bite the bloc when Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine. General Onno Eichelsheim is in Australia for Talisman Sabre – annual war games hosted by the Australian Defence Force, and said the country should 'get ready for something that you hope will never happen'. Speaking to the ABC, General Eichelsheim said Australia should not ignore the parallels between China and Russia. Dutch defence chief Onno Eichelsheim is urging Australia to boost its military spending. Dutch Ministry of Defence / Handout Credit: Supplied 'You should look at the facts that are around you … if Russia tells us that they want to have more, more influence, than take that seriously,' he said. 'And if you see in this case in this region, China building up, take it seriously and get ready for something that you hope will never happen. 'If you prepare for war, you can avoid war. And that's how we look at it.' During a press conference in China, NewsWire put to Mr Albanese that there were similarities between his approach to managing the relationship with Beijing and Europe's pre-Ukraine war approach to managing its relationship with Moscow. He denied there was. 'Our relationship is very different,' Mr Albanese said. 'And I don't think you can translate one thing across some other part of the world of which Australia is not a participant.' The Trump administration has called on the Albanese government to hike defence spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP, warning of an 'imminent' threat to the Indo-Pacific. The concern is driven by China's constant war drills around Taiwan and rapid military build-up, including a massive expansion of its atomic arsenal. NewsWire asked Prime Minister Anthony Albanese if he was concerned China posed a similar threat to China as Russia did to the EU. Joseph Olbrycht-Palmer / NewsWire Credit: NewsWire As of mid-2024, China's operational nuclear warheads exceeded 600, according to the US Department of Defense. That was nearly triple what the country was estimated to have in 2020. Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles has said build up was sparking 'security anxiety' in Australia. But Mr Albanese and his government have been firm to resist calls, both domestic and international, to boost the Australian Defence Force's budget. General Eichelsheim, whose country recently agreed to hike defence spending to 5 per cent of GDP in line with most of NATO, said a GDP percentage was not the only important measure, but that Australia would need to do more one way or another. 'It's not about the percentage, it's about the capabilities,' he said. 'But inevitably, I think Australia has to increase its capabilities as well, if you look at the region, and the build-up in this case of China. 'Also, if they need to help out Europe, which (Australia is) actually already doing – if you look at the war in Ukraine, and supporting us there.'
News.com.au
4 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Netherlands urges Australia to take China threat ‘seriously' amid war-games
Australia has been warned to take China's military build-up 'seriously', saying the threat of Beijing to the Indo-Pacific region is like the danger Russia poses to Europe. The Prime Minister spent much of last week touting Australia's trade, tourism and research offerings in Shanghai, Beijing and Chengdu. Securing peace through economic interdependence was a strategy the EU used with Russia following the collapse of the Soviet Union – a ploy that ultimately came back to bite the bloc when Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine. General Onno Eichelsheim is in Australia for Talisman Sabre – annual war games hosted by the Australian Defence Force, and said the country should 'get ready for something that you hope will never happen'. Speaking to the ABC, General Eichelsheim said Australia should not ignore the parallels between China and Russia. 'You should look at the facts that are around you … if Russia tells us that they want to have more, more influence, than take that seriously,' he said. 'And if you see in this case in this region, China building up, take it seriously and get ready for something that you hope will never happen. 'If you prepare for war, you can avoid war. And that's how we look at it.' During a press conference in China, NewsWire put to Mr Albanese that there were similarities between his approach to managing the relationship with Beijing and Europe's pre-Ukraine war approach to managing its relationship with Moscow. He denied there was. 'Our relationship is very different,' Mr Albanese said. 'And I don't think you can translate one thing across some other part of the world of which Australia is not a participant.' The Trump administration has called on the Albanese government to hike defence spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP, warning of an 'imminent' threat to the Indo-Pacific. The concern is driven by China's constant war drills around Taiwan and rapid military build-up, including a massive expansion of its atomic arsenal. As of mid-2024, China's operational nuclear warheads exceeded 600, according to the US Department of Defense. That was nearly triple what the country was estimated to have in 2020. Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles has said build up was sparking 'security anxiety' in Australia. But Mr Albanese and his government have been firm to resist calls, both domestic and international, to boost the Australian Defence Force's budget. General Eichelsheim, whose country recently agreed to hike defence spending to 5 per cent of GDP in line with most of NATO, said a GDP percentage was not the only important measure, but that Australia would need to do more one way or another. 'It's not about the percentage, it's about the capabilities,' he said. 'But inevitably, I think Australia has to increase its capabilities as well, if you look at the region, and the build-up in this case of China. 'Also, if they need to help out Europe, which (Australia is) actually already doing – if you look at the war in Ukraine, and supporting us there.'
Perth Now
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
‘Very unusual' if China didn't spy on war drills
The Deputy Prime Minister says China is not spying on Australian war drills but could not rule it out from happening in the days ahead. Richard Marles, who is also the Defence Minister, said on Today that he was certain ongoing Australian war drills were not being spied on 'right now'. The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is participating in Talisman Sabre military exercises that include more than 30,000 military personnel from Australia, the US and 19 partner nations. The exercises began on Sunday and will run until August 4 across Queensland, Western Australia, NSW, the Northern Territory and Papua New Guinea. Mr Marles was asked on Today whether he was aware if warships were spying on the war games. 'They're not, but they have in the past,' he said. 'But it might happen over the coming days and weeks. That's what's happening.' Labor MP Pat Conroy said on Sunday – when he was acting as defence minister – the ADF was prepared for China to observe the military exercises. The ADF is participating in Talisman Sabre war drills: NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone Credit: News Corp Australia 'People observe these exercises to collect intelligence around procedures, around the electronic spectrum and the use of communications, and we'll adjust accordingly so that we manage that leakage,' Mr Conroy said. 'I think it'll be a two-way process, but when we conduct these exercises, we're always cognisant that they're being observed by people who want to collect information about how we work with our allies, how we communicate with our allies and partners, and you manage that accordingly in a sensitive way. 'That's what the Australian people would expect our Australian Defence Force to do, and we'll continue to do that. 'But again, I'll say the Chinese military have observed these exercises since 2017 and it'd be very unusual if they didn't do that this time.' Chinese spy ships were spotted at the last Talisman Sabre exercises in 2023. Mr Marles said China could spy on the drills in the coming days and weeks. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia Mr Marles said the Australian Navy was in the vicinity of China, and the 'fundamental point' was the countries should engage in accordance with the 'rules-based order'. 'The reason we have used that as our baseline is because we are much more often in the vicinity of China than China is in the vicinity of Australia,' he said. 'And the reason for that is because that's where our trade routes are. 'That's where our sea lines of communication are. 'The bulk of the work of the Royal Australian Navy is in places like the South China Sea, the East China Sea, the waters north of Australia and it's really important that they are able to continue to do that work.'
The Hindu
13-07-2025
- General
- The Hindu
India joins bilateral military exercise in Australia
India, along with 18 other nations, is participating in Talisman Sabre 2025, a major bilateral military drill led by Australia that commenced on Sunday (July 13, 2025). Now in its 11th iteration, the Talisman Sabre is the largest and most sophisticated warfighting exercise ever conducted in Australia, the Department of Defence, Australia, said in a statement. The exercise unites more than 35,000 military personnel from 19 nations. 'Over the next three weeks, more than 35,000 military personnel from Australia and partnering nations will deploy across Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia, New South Wales and Christmas Island [in Australia]. For the first time, activities will also be conducted outside of Australia in Papua New Guinea,' the statement said. In addition to the U.S., military forces from Canada, Fiji, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Tonga, and the U.K. would join as partners. Malaysia and Vietnam will attend as observers. This edition of the military exercise would consist of live-fire exercises and field training activities, incorporating force preparation activities, amphibious landings, ground force manoeuvres, and air combat and maritime operations. It will also feature a range of new Australian Defence Force capabilities, including UH-60M Black Hawks and the Precision Strike Missile. Vice-Admiral Justin Jones, the Chief of Joint Operations, Royal Australian Navy, will join Lieutenant General Joel B. Vowell, Commanding General of the U.S. Army Pacific, for the official opening at Garden Island, Sydney, Australia.
