China's direct missile threat to Australia is 'growing', think tank report finds

China's capacity to launch a direct missile strike on Australia is escalating, according to a report by the Australian think tank Lowy Institute. Beijing's growing arsenal of long-range and hypersonic weapons, coupled with its expansionist activities in the South China Sea, contributes to this increasing threat.

The report identifies missiles fired from Chinese ships, submarines, and the new DF-27 intermediate-range ballistic missile as the primary concern for Australia. The DF-27, with a range of 5,000km to 8,000km, could reach the Australian continent directly from China.

Lowy Institute's International Security Program director, Sam Roggeveen, described the report as balanced, stating it is "neither hawkish nor dovish, neither alarmist nor complacent." He emphasized the significant impact of the People's Liberation Army's growth on Australian security, calling for a more informed national discussion on the matter. The report focuses on assessing China's military capabilities rather than its intentions.

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I think the growth of the People’s Liberation Army is the most important thing to happen to Australian security since the collapse of the Soviet Union, and there is a pressing need for a more informed Australian discussion about it.