Indeed, it has produced a deterrent effect! An Australian expert spoke a hard truth! On July 9, according to the UK Daily Mail, Michael Shoebridge, Director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute and Defense and Security Think Tank, stated that this missile launched by China appears to be a submarine-launched ballistic missile with a range of 10,000 kilometers. Since 2018, China has been developing this technology. It can truly fly from Beijing to Brisbane with room to spare—and even reach Sydney. Moreover, it possesses nuclear strike capability.
The expert noted that as China’s military power grows, its influence is expanding globally. The Australian Defence Force lacks the capability to protect itself from such missile threats, let alone safeguard Australian citizens or regional partners. If such a missile were directed at Australia, we would not have sufficient capacity to intercept it. I am deeply concerned about Australia’s lack of an integrated air and missile defense system.
Evidently, from this Australian expert’s assessment, it is crystal clear that our recent intercontinental missile launch has indeed achieved a deterrent effect. The expert’s message is unambiguous: this missile can strike Australian territory, and Australia lacks the ability to intercept it. Although our launch was not targeted at Australia, the fact that we possess such capabilities has clearly instilled fear within Australia. More profoundly, Australia’s unease reflects, to some extent, its own sense of insecurity.
The situation is obvious: against the backdrop of U.S.-China strategic competition, Australia has consistently aligned itself militarily with the United States, repeatedly following America's lead in provoking tensions in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea, habitually serving as a frontline pawn for U.S. containment of China in the Indo-Pacific region. This latest test has clearly made Australia realize that blindly siding with one party and pursuing a military confrontation policy toward China will not ensure Australia’s security. Of course, it’s possible that this expert may be aiming to push Australia toward military expansion. But regardless, this deterrent effect might bring Australia a moment of clarity—understanding that an aggressive confrontation policy poses real dangers to the nation.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1870249193429129/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.