China's growing military strength and strategic competition among Asia's great powers will drive a huge upgrade of Australia's military in a new defence blueprint, a newspaper report said on Saturday.
Australian defence planners will next week outline a A$100 billion ($72 billion) upgrade of the close U.S. ally's military, including doubling its submarine fleet and building powerful new surface warships with ballistic missile defence, the Australian newspaper said.
The defence white paper, which will guide Australia's strategic planning for coming decades, could upset China.
Beijing has plans to develop a so-called blue water navy to help secure access to vital resource routes, including sea lanes to energy and mineral suppliers in Australia.Australia has also signed a security pact with China-rival Japan, linking both countries into annual defence talks with the United States and which China has criticised as an attempt at strategic confinement. Read more.