Abbott warns Australia is unprepared for possible Taiwan conflict
Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott has warned Australia is "sleepwalking" into disaster by failing to prepare for a potential military conflict between China and the United States over Taiwan. He responded to fellow ex-PM Kevin Rudd's assessment that there is roughly a one-in-three chance China could attempt military action on Taiwan by 2028, potentially triggering a regional crisis that would directly threaten Australia.
Abbott argues successive Australian governments have failed to address the catastrophic risks such a conflict would pose. He warns that Chinese military action would immediately halt trade with China, devastate fuel supplies, potentially bring missile strikes on Australian soil, and possibly force Australia into direct conflict with combat losses unseen since World War Two. He criticises the government for prioritising AUKUS submarines that will arrive too late and warns that about half of young Australians believe the country is not worth defending.
- Former PM warns Australia unprepared for Taiwan-related war with China by 2028
- Conflict would halt Chinese trade, disrupt fuel supplies, risk missile strikes on Australia
- Abbott criticises governments for inadequate defence spending and lack of national readiness
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Taiwan is a self-governed island off the coast of China. The Chinese government claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out using military force to take control. The island is strategically important to global trade and sits along some of the world's busiest shipping lanes.
There have been growing concerns in recent years about the possibility of China attempting military action against Taiwan, which would likely involve the United States in its defence as a key ally in the region. Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd recently stated there is roughly a one-in-three chance such action could occur by 2028.
Australia would be severely affected by such a conflict because it relies heavily on trade with China and is formally allied with the United States through defence agreements. A conflict could disrupt Australia's economy, fuel supplies, and potentially draw the country directly into military combat.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Australia is ‘sleepwalking’ towards disaster as war threat over Taiwan grows: Former PM on scenario that could cripple Australia”.