Chinese military power 'shifting Pacific balance', says defence white paper - The Australian

CHINA'S military expansion is changing the balance of power in the Pacific, posing a direct challenge to Australia's strategic weight in the region.

And a draft of next year's defence white paper, obtained by The Australian, also warns that technological advances have reduced the warning time Australia would have against an enemy. "Despite the defensive advantages of our geography, the proliferation of long-range strike and power projection capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region, and emerging capabilities in areas such as cyber, increases the risk of a potential aggressor being able to directly attack Australia with little or no warning time," it says.