Since 2023, Australia has committed to updating its defense strategy documents on a biennial basis in order to assess changes in the strategic environment and adjust its strategic thinking accordingly. On April 16, 2026, Australia released the 2026 National Defense Strategy (NDS) and the 2026 Integrated Investment Program (IIP). In this year’s defense strategy, Australia placed particular emphasis on the threat posed by China.
Australia’s NDS explicitly identifies China’s national power and military capabilities as the primary factors shaping the Indo-Pacific region. It also highlights the risks posed by the activities of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and the China Coast Guard (CCG) in international waters, including the South China Sea and the East China Sea.
Compared with the 2024 strategy, the 2026 NDS uses clearer language on China. It not only directly names the regional impact of the PLA and the CCG but also omits the 2024 assessment that China-U.S. communication could help manage disputes.
Based on experience, when policy documents released by foreign governments address the impact of China, Beijing often responds forcefully by accusing Western countries of clinging to the so-called “China threat” narrative. For example, in response to Australia’s 2024 NDS, China’s Foreign Ministry urged Australia to “abandon its Cold War mentality” and stop making an issue of China at every turn. China’s Defense Ministry likewise criticized Australia for hyping up the “China threat” as a pretext for expanding its own military capabilities. Even though the 2024 NDS only emphasized the impact of China-U.S. competition on the strategic environment, Beijing still issued a strong response.
