China has issued a chilling warning to Australians declaring a ‘heavy attack’ would quickly follow if our forces came to the defense of Taiwan. In explosive comments published in Chinese tabloid The Global Times on Saturday, editor-in-chief Hu Xijin was blunt in his analysis of Australia’s promise to come to Taiwan’s aid should US-allied forces get involved in the conflict.
‘If Australian troops come to fight in the Taiwan Straits, it is unimaginable that China won’t carry out a heavy attack on them and the Australian military facilities that support them,’ Mr. Xijin tweeted. ‘So Australia (had) better be prepared to sacrifice for Taiwan island and the US.’
The ominous words are believed to be connected to comments made by Australia’s Defence Minister Peter Dutton on Friday, where he intimated Aussie troops would step in and help the US if Taiwan was attacked by the global superpower. In the eyes of Mr. Dutton, the move would leave Australia in a global position of strength.
‘(China’s) been very clear about their intent to go into Taiwan and we need to make sure that there is a high level of preparedness, a greater sense of deterrence by our capability, and that is how I think we put our country in a position of strength,’ he told The Australian.
‘It would be inconceivable that we wouldn’t support the US in an action if the US chose to take that action.’ Professor Peter Dean, Chair of Defence Studies and Director of UWA’s Defence and Security Institute, told Daily Mail Australia in October war was a real possibility in the region within five or six years.
‘You certainly can’t rule out the potential for the use of force. If the Chinese get to the point where they think they can take Taiwan by force, win, and be successful, and they think either that US resolve is lacking or won’t be enough, they could be encouraged to risk something really stupid,’ he said. READ MORE
