China's military could arrive at Australia's doorstep sooner than expected, with ships and aircrafts expected to touch down at the Solomon Islands in just weeks. 9News
security experts have warned authorities to expect the fleets to arrive within the month, as the global superpower looks to capitalise on the caretaker period in Australian politics – which runs from the dissolution of the Legislative Assembly until the election result is clear – and match the rapid development of bases in the South China sea.
Defence analyst Malcolm Davis said if Chinese naval forces are based in the Solomon Islands, Australia will have to respond with a "fundamental change" in its military operations. "We now have to think more about defending the east coast ... there will likely be more focus on better surveillance by naval, space and air assets to monitor Chinese activities," he said.
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