Australia Is Quietly Preparing Its Entire Economy for War with China

The Military Show

Become a Member Today and Unlock EXCLUSIVE Videos: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKfak8fBm_Lhy4eX9UKxEpA/join  Facing an unprecedented military buildup by Beijing, Australia is undergoing its biggest strategic pivot since World War II. From Chinese DF-26 "Guam Killer" missiles to hypersonic threats, Canberra is actively preparing for potential conflict across the Indo-Pacific. Discover how Australia is boosting defense spending by $53 billion, launching nationwide civil resilience inquiries, and acquiring cutting-edge AUKUS nuclear submarines, Tomahawk cruise missiles, and Ghost Shark autonomous underwater vehicles to safeguard its sovereignty.  ⏱️ CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Rising Threat of Conflict Between China and Australia 01:15 - DF-26 "Guam Killer" Missiles Threaten Mainland Australia 02:44 - PLA Navy Aircraft Carriers and Stealth Bomber Capabilities 04:07 - Chinese Maritime Blockades Threaten Australian Supply Chains 05:29 - PM Anthony Albanese Reacts to Chinese ICBM Test 06:44 - AUKUS Agreement Supplies Nuclear Submarines to ADF 08:00 - Parliamentary Inquiry Launches National Civil Preparedness 09:26 - Defense Minister Richard Marles Increases Budget by $53B 10:51 - 2026 Integrated Investment Program Allocates $425B Total 12:17 - ADF Acquires US Tomahawks & Ghost Shark Submarines 13:26 - Will Australian Rearmament Deter PLA Aggression in Pacific?  Support us directly as we bring you independent, up-to-date reporting on military news and global conflicts by clicking here: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMilitaryShow/join  #militarystrategy #militarydevelopments #militaryanalysis #themilitaryshow  SOURCES: https://pastebin.com/rsaL6fhB

Transcript

00:01As the weeks and months go by, the Western world drifts inexorably closer towards a war with China.

00:07All the signs are there, from Beijing's increasingly aggressive military posturing,

00:12to the statements of its leader, Xi Jinping, who calls his country's reunification with Taiwan unstoppable.

00:18And while the grim reality of a prospective conflict is still slowly dawning in certain parts of the world,

00:24other nations are actively preparing for the fight to come.

00:27Australia is one of them.

00:29As the Chinese threat grows ever larger, Canberra refuses to sit idly by.

00:34For the first time since the Second World War, Australian officials are not only discussing the increasingly realistic prospect of

00:41conflict,

00:42but also actively investing in their country's defences to ensure that they're ready for it.

00:47There are several clear reasons to explain Australia's urgency.

00:51One of the most obvious ones is geographical.

00:53Despite being classified as a Western power, Australia is situated deep in the Eastern Hemisphere,

00:59quite far from most of its closest political allies like the United States and the United Kingdom.

01:05It's not all that close to China either.

01:07But if and when war breaks out, Australia stands to be one of the first nations in the firing lines.

01:12It has to be able to defend itself, since it won't necessarily have the luxury of being able to wait

01:17around for allied nations to mobilise their forces and move into the Pacific region to help out.

01:23Indeed, given that Beijing now reportedly possesses hypersonic missile systems which are capable of moving over five times faster than

01:31the speed of sound,

01:32with some, like the DF-41, capable of speeds 25 times faster than sound, Australia may have very little warning

01:40time to work with.

01:41And hypersonic missiles aren't the only thing that Australia has to worry about.

01:46A recent report from the foreign policy think tank, the Lowy Institute, argues that a historic shift in Beijing's military

01:53strength presents a real and growing threat to the Australian mainland.

01:57While the report is purely analytical and makes no comment or prediction about the possibility of war between the two

02:03nations,

02:04it clearly states that China already possesses the capability to deal serious damage to Australia.

02:09For example, China could deploy road-mobile DF-26 ballistic missiles launched from six-axle heavy transport trucks to strike

02:17directly at targets across Australia.

02:19Boasting a reported range over 5,000 kilometres, 3,100 miles, the DF-26 can carry warheads weighing up to

02:271,800 kilograms, 4,000 pounds and strike with an accuracy of 100 metres or 330 feet.

02:35It's been nicknamed the Guam Killer since it was China's first conventionally armed ballistic missile claimed to be capable of

02:41reaching American military bases on the island territory of Guam,

02:45but could also deal major damage to any other country that stands in China's way, like Australia.

02:50Sam Roggeveen, one of the co-authors of the Lowy Institute report, also notes that even if China's direct strike

02:56capabilities have been fairly modest in the past, that's clearly beginning to change.

03:01He notes that China is believed to have already developed a new intercontinental ballistic missile armed with a non-nuclear

03:07warhead that could easily reach Australia,

03:09and is also working on a subsonic stealth bomber, the H-20, which could also pose a massive threat to

03:15the country.

03:16We have no photographic evidence it even exists, but there's plenty of reporting from good open sources and Pentagon annual

03:22reports which refer to this design.

03:24It's quite possible that photographic evidence emerges this year. We assume it's close to breaking cover.

03:30Then there are the drones. Like every other major military power on Earth, China has been keeping a close eye

03:36on the events of the Russia-Ukraine war.

03:39It's clearly seen the enormous impact that unmanned systems have had in that conflict, with Russia relying on vast swarms

03:45of them to deal devastating damage across Ukraine,

03:48and Ukraine in turn building its own drone army to battle back and carry out precision strikes on Russian refineries,

03:54military bases, and logistics hubs.

03:56Roggeveen notes that it may be some time until China has drones capable of traversing the South China Sea and

04:02reaching the Australian mainland,

04:04but it's certainly something that the People's Liberation Army, PLA, is looking at.

04:09We also see some evidence emerging that China is looking at long-range drone systems, not just for surveillance,

04:14but potentially one which could act as a bomber, which could potentially reach Australia, although it's difficult to see China

04:21fielding that capability within a decade.

04:23Bomber drones might not be an imminent threat, but Beijing is still building a sizeable fleet of strike and surveillance

04:29drones designed to saturate enemy air defenses,

04:32penetrate hostile airspace, gather intelligence, and strike at troops, equipment, and infrastructure.

04:37It's also been very busy building the biggest naval force on the planet.

04:42As Roggeveen notes, we now see good evidence of new shipyards and very modern designs.

04:48He added that the PLA Navy's circumnavigation of Australia in 2025 demonstrated China's growing ability to project power further and

04:56further from its borders,

04:57and this will only increase as Beijing continues to build more warships and, more importantly, additional aircraft carriers.

05:04They're learning to operate those carriers in an efficient manner and developing real military capabilities,

05:10and they're pushing for up to nine carriers, which can make them far and away the second biggest aircraft carrier

05:15fleet in the world and close to the US.

05:18Now, the larger China's navy becomes, the easier it will be for the country to exert control over the South

05:24China Sea and beyond,

05:25piling pressure on any nation that dares to stand in its way when the time comes to take over Taiwan.

05:31Australia is one of those countries that could suffer the most, if and when that happens,

05:36and China wouldn't even necessarily need to launch any missiles or carry out any bombardments on Australian soil.

05:42It could make life significantly harder for the Australian people in numerous other ways,

05:47such as severing undersea cables, blockading trade routes through strategic choke points around the Indonesian archipelago,

05:53preventing shipments entering or leaving Australian waters,

05:57or carrying out cyber warfare operations against critical infrastructure.

06:01All of these methods are listed as prospective threats in the Lowy report,

06:05and given that Australia is an island nation, heavily dependent on maritime trade to ensure that essential goods,

06:11like fuel medicine and modern technologies, are available to its people and businesses,

06:16it's extremely vulnerable to any sort of disruption of trade routes and shipping lanes.

06:20The report adds that any threat to Australia would multiply dramatically if China were able to seize control of some

06:26sort of military base within the Pacific,

06:28as this would bring Central Australia within bomber range and allow attacks to be mounted more frequently.

06:34For now, the report authors argue that the US is the main obstacle standing in China's way of not just

06:40taking Taiwan,

06:41but taking far greater control of large parts of the entire Eastern Hemisphere.

06:45The primary counterweight is the credibility of US extended deterrence and the cohesion of US-led security arrangements,

06:52both of which China's build-up is directly designed to erode.

06:55The PLA is thus helping China to construct a sphere of influence in Southeast Asia that excludes Australia and its

07:01partners.

07:02In sum, these changes represent a historic shift that affects Australia's interests,

07:07regardless of China's capacity to strike Australian territory directly.

07:10The authors call on Australia to take steps now to counteract this potential threat.

07:16Thankfully, it appears that the Australian government is paying attention.

07:19Indeed, after China carried out a test launch of a nuclear-capable missile back in July,

07:25the Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, labelled the action as both provocative and destabilising.

07:30Pat Conroy, the Minister of Defence Industry and Minister for Pacific Island Affairs, echoed Albanese's comments,

07:37stating that the test was not conducive to China's standing in the region

07:40and calling for like-minded countries across the region to pursue some sort of regional security agreement.

07:45When questioned on China's massive military investment and modernisation, Conroy was unequivocal.

07:51What we're seeing in the region is the biggest arms race, the biggest build-up of military since 1945,

07:57and that's occurring without any transparency or strategic reassurance.

08:01This is a race where we have to make sure the Australian Defence Force has the best possible equipment.

08:06Where prepared for a conflict in our region, everyone is working very hard to avoid it.

08:11So, what exactly is Australia doing to prepare itself for war?

08:16But before we look at the details, the military show brings you the full picture, not just headlines.

08:21Hit subscribe to stay ahead of the curve.

08:25As Conroy notes, Australia would understandably prefer to avoid conflict if possible.

08:30But the harsh fact of the matter is that China may not feel the same way.

08:34Xi Jinping appears intent on attempting to take Taiwan eventually, no matter what the Western world has to say about

08:40it.

08:40And when that time comes, the PLA may very well adopt a strike-first negotiate-later approach to any countries

08:46that dare to stand in its way.

08:48Since Australia is a member of the AUKUS Trilateral Security Partnership, which also includes the United Kingdom and the United

08:55States,

08:56it will almost inevitably be expected to step in to support the defence of Taiwan.

09:00AUKUS also ensures that Australia's military is set to be in a much stronger place by the 2030s.

09:06The agreement involves the purchase of three US-made Virginia-class submarines, plus the co-development of a whole new

09:12class of nuclear-powered submarines,

09:14some of which will be built in Adelaide, Australia.

09:17But that's still several years away, and there's every chance that China will take some sort of military action before

09:23the 2020s are through.

09:25With that in mind, Australian officials understand that they need to do more today if they want to be ready

09:30for whatever may come tomorrow.

09:31So, on August 4, the Australian Labour government unveiled a parliamentary inquiry into the country's national civil preparedness and resilience.

09:40A bipartisan committee has been established and asked to examine how Australian business and the broader community can contribute to

09:47national defence

09:48and ensure that essential goods and services continue to remain accessible even in times of crisis.

09:54The committee will also investigate strengths and weaknesses in Australia's existing infrastructure and preparedness,

10:00with its chair, Labour Senator Deb O'Neill, stating that the task of defending the nation and deterring assaults on

10:06our sovereignty

10:07lies not only to armed servicemen and women, but to every Australian, and engages every sector of the economy and

10:13our civil society.

10:14In short, Australia wants to ensure that the whole country is ready for war and all of the challenges it

10:20brings,

10:21and that all relevant entities, from small businesses to nationwide brands, can play a part in confronting those challenges and

10:27keeping the country afloat.

10:29As Deputy Committee Chair Dave Sharma explained,

10:32Australia's deteriorating strategic environment and heightened geopolitical risk requires a greater degree of resilience, preparedness and self-reliance,

10:40so Australia can withstand global shocks. This inquiry will contribute to that effort.

10:45Experts believe that some of the committee's key areas of focus might include looking at ways in which the government

10:51can stockpile or secure essential imports,

10:54like fuel and fertiliser, in order to withstand supply chain shocks and trade disruptions that are likely to occur during

11:00a war with China.

11:01It will also likely look at ways to safeguard essential infrastructure, keep food flowing to communities across the country,

11:08and examine ways in which other nations around the world have prepared for the possibility of war in order to

11:13learn from them.

11:14They may, for instance, look to countries in the Nordic and Baltic regions, which have been taking steps to strengthen

11:20their borders

11:20and insulate their infrastructure against the rising threats of Russian aggression.

11:25Regardless of the exact methods involved, this is a massive step for Australia.

11:29As Defence Minister Richard Marles notes,

11:31this is an area which really hasn't received much attention in Australian public policy since the end of the Second

11:37World War.

11:38For decades, Australia, like many parts of Western Europe, effectively operated on the assumption that the days of world wars

11:45were over.

11:45It enjoyed the many benefits of years of peace, but now, with the risk of a major conflict growing greater

11:51all the time,

11:52it can no longer afford to operate as though the old rules still apply.

11:55It has to prepare itself.

11:57And this new parliamentary inquiry is just one small part of a far larger strategy.

12:02In April of this year, Marles also announced that Australia's national defence spending is set to surge by around $53

12:09billion over the coming decade,

12:11as a direct response to what the government calls, intensifying global risks.

12:15Canberra has committed to spend around 3% of its gross domestic product, GDP, on the military by 2033, with

12:23Marles telling reporters,

12:24more countries are engaged in conflict today than at any time since the end of World War II, and this

12:30is occurring across every region of the world.

12:32In the face of this, the Albanese government is pursuing every avenue of increasing defence capability quickly,

12:38mostly through bigger defence appropriations, but also through accessing private capital.

12:4214 of the $53 billion is set to be spent in the next four years, with a large part of

12:48that sum going towards upgrades to the Henderson shipyards of Western Australia,

12:53where new nuclear-powered submarines and Megami-class frigates will be constructed and housed.

12:58Several billion dollars have also been allocated to new investments in drone technologies,

13:02and the $53 billion figure is just a fraction of Australia's expected expenditure in the years ahead.

13:08The country's 2026 Integrated Investment Programme, IIP, revealed that the government will invest around $425 billion over the coming decade

13:18to deliver accelerated capability for a more integrated focus force.

13:22Key objectives of this investment include building a larger and more lethal navy, with more surface ships and submarines,

13:29expanding the Army's capabilities for literal operations across Australia's northern lands and maritime spaces,

13:35with additional landing craft, long-range strike capabilities and a combined arms-land system,

13:40and a more advanced air force that will be able to provide air support for integrated operations, carrying out surveillance,

13:47strike and air defence missions.

13:49Australia isn't neglecting the cyber side of warfare either.

13:52It intends to strengthen its cyber capabilities, to safeguard networks and systems from digital attacks,

13:58and has also announced plans to enhance its space capabilities in order to provide stronger space-based situational awareness and

14:04communication.

14:06In short, Canberra is leaving no stone unturned in its mission to modernise and maximise its military capacities

14:12through what's left of the 2020s and into the 2030s and beyond.

14:16It has a long list of long-term goals, some of which may take several years to achieve,

14:21but also wants to ensure that its armed forces enjoy some significant improvements in defensive strength and deterrence before this

14:27decade is done.

14:28With that in mind, billions of dollars are already going towards two of the country's top military priorities,

14:34autonomous and precision-strike systems, which are both core focuses in the country's 2026 National Defence Strategy document.

14:43Australia's tactical planners have clearly understood that if their country wants to be able to deter its enemies from taking

14:48action against it,

14:50it needs to have weapons that are actually capable of striking them.

14:53As Mike Hughes, director of the Defence Strategy Programme at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute notes,

14:59That's very hard to achieve if we're stuck with 120 kilometres of range.

15:04Investing in capabilities that put that out to 2,500 kilometres is a serious uplift in the ADF's capabilities.

15:11Even 2,500 kilometres, or 1,550 miles, still wouldn't be enough for Australia to fire directly on Chinese territory

15:19from its own mainland,

15:21but it would allow the ADF to project power much further than it has in the past

15:24and exert a far greater level of influence and control across the surrounding seas.

15:29With this in mind, Canberra has already negotiated an agreement with America to obtain a batch of US-made Tomahawk

15:35cruise missiles,

15:36which can cover those kinds of extended distances and will greatly extend the Royal Australian Navy's grand strike radius.

15:43And Australia isn't just procuring weapons from its allies, but is also taking big steps towards creating its own systems

15:49and munitions as well.

15:51In April of this year, for example, the Australian Army carried out test fires of its first-ever domestically produced

15:57guided multiple launch rocket system missile,

16:00which was fired from a US-made high-mobility artillery rocket system, HIMARS.

16:05The RAN has also been working together with an American drone manufacturer, Anduril, on a brand-new unmanned underwater vehicle,

16:12the Ghost Shark,

16:13which appears tailor-made for a country with one of the longest coastlines in the world.

16:16Some of Canberra's top military minds have also teamed up with Japanese counterparts to create a new high-energy laser

16:23system,

16:24which could have an array of applications aboard both ground vehicles and naval vessels.

16:28And Australia also recently celebrated the successful testing of a so-called Frankenstein medium-range air defense system,

16:35which could provide the country with a much more affordable alternative to US-made Patriot missile batteries moving forward.

16:41These are just a few of the examples we already know about, and it's highly likely that Australia has plenty

16:47more projects underway and still under wraps, just waiting to be unveiled.

16:51What's clear is that the country isn't messing around.

16:54It's making all the right moves to prepare for the worst-case scenario, facing the threat of war head-on,

16:59rather than shying away from it, and ensuring that not just its military, but its entire society is ready to

17:06deal with whatever China has to throw its way.

17:08Now, you can learn more about the kind of role Australia might play in a war with China in this

17:13video,

17:14which looks at what might happen if Beijing attacked Taiwan in 2027.

17:18Or check out this video to find out about the biggest weakness in Xi Jinping's Taiwan strategy that Australia, the

17:24US and their allies could exploit to undermine the entire operation before it even begins.

17:30And finally, don't forget to subscribe to the channel to see more military videos just like this,

17:35leave a comment sharing your thoughts on how the situation in Taiwan will unfold,

17:39and consider becoming a member to access exclusive content and in-depth analysis you won't want to miss.

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