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3. Australia announces new defense strategy
Australia has announced a new defense strategy, including a substantially bigger budget.
The new plan is aimed at protecting the country in the medium and long term. It accuses China of "coercive tactics," and calls for stronger deterrence.
The government plans to increase defense spending by more than 32 billion US dollars over the next 10 years, or 2.4 percent of GDP.
And over the next four years, more than 600 million US dollars will be earmarked for areas such as the development of long-range missiles.
Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles said, "Our environment is characterized by the uncertainty and tensions of entrenched and increasing strategic competition between the United States and China."
Marles added that national security lies "further afield" than his country's coast.
Australia plans to acquire nuclear submarines under AUKUS, a collective security framework with the United States and Britain.
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