Australian Military Too Narrowly Focused to Counter Beijing Threat: Former General

BRISBANE, Australia—The planned development of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) will leave it unable to cope with the unpredictable nature of conflict, warns former Major General Adam Findlay. In April 2024, the Labor government handed down its National Defence Strategy aimed at “transforming the ADF and equipping it to survive in a much less certain world.” The government said it would increase defence spending by an additional $50 billion (US$33.28 billion) over ten years, on top of the $270 billion (US$179 billion) already dedicated to the ADF under the Morrison government in 2020. The new investment continues the ongoing development of Australia’s “porcupine” strategy, and includes the acquisition of long-range weapons and drones....