Strengthening Its Military Capability In The Asia Pacific Region, Australia Disburses $ 580 million In Funds

Tank M1 Abrams milik militer Australia. (Wikimedia Commons/Lance Corporal Damion Hatch Jr/U.S. Marine Corps)

JAKARTA - Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison plans to disburse funds amounting to $ 580 million, or around IDR 8.4 trillion, to increase his military capability.

In the announcement Wednesday, April 28, the funds were used to increase their four military bases in the northern region, to expand war games with the United States.

Morrison said the expansion plan in the northern region was to anticipate the uncertain situation in the Asia Pacific region. Including the diplomatic and trade tensions with China.

"Our goal is a free and open Indo-Pacific, to ensure a peaceful region, which, at the same time, Australia is in a position to always protect its interests", Scott Morrison said, launched Reuters.

The Australian military's Chinook helicopter. (Wikimedia Commons / SFC Sadie Bleistein)

While Morrison avoided mentioning China on Wednesday, Australia's military focus on the Indo-Pacific region comes amid increasing competition between the two for influence in the region in recent years.

Relations between Australia and China have deteriorated even more after Canberra last year called for an international investigation into the origins of the coronavirus, prompting retaliatory trade from Beijing.

Morrison said military airstrips in the Northern Territory would be extended to support larger aircraft, firing ranges would be revamped and new training facilities set up for US defense and marine personnel. The plan is for the military upgrade to begin this year and finish in 2026.

Funds used in this year's expansion are part of a $ 270 billion budget over the next decade to increase Australia's long-range strike capability.

Australian military illustration. (Wikimedia Commons / Cpl. Tyler L / US Navy)

Australia's increasingly assertive approach has won support with Washington, and Morrison said the new facility would enhance joint military exercises with the United States.

To note, Australia's latest announcement of a military upgrade comes just days after one of the country's most senior security officials said liberal democracies must prepare for war.

Home Department Secretary Mike Pezzullo did not specify a catalyst for his warning, but it did follow a sharp deterioration in Australia's relationship with China and increasing regional tensions over Taiwan.

Meanwhile, Australian Defense Minister Peter Dutton last Sunday said the conflict between China and Taiwan should not be ignored.