The prospect of Chinese missiles being fired upon Australia from ships or even a base off its doorstep is suddenly real and chillingPresident Xi wants Australia to “cower” before China’s growing military might — but Australia would never become a subservient state, the defence minister has vowed. “My judgment is that President Xi wants a tributary state arrangement with Australia,” Peter Dutton told television interviewers. “They want a military presence, putting countries in a sustained position of weakness. Australia will never abide that. We want a good relationship with China but we’re not going to be subservient or cower to them.”SponsoredHis warning coincided with a statement from Scott Morrison, the prime minister, that China would cross a “red line” if it built a military base in the Solomon Islands, barely 1,000 miles from Australia.

Source: The Times April 26, 2022 00:03 UTC