What influence of China on Australian defence spending?

A leading defence analyst says Australia can no longer rely on assumptions about how the United States will behave in the Asia-Pacific when it comes to making decisions about defence spending.

Professor Hugh White.

A leading defence analyst says Australia can no longer rely on assumptions about how the United States will behave in the Asia-Pacific when it comes to making decisions about defence spending.

Defence was the only area of government expenditure that was cut in the May Budget and Australia now ranks as the seventh largest importer of major arms.

Professor Hugh White from the Australian National University told Greg Dyett the traditional assumptions no longer apply because of the rise of China.

(Click on the audio tab above to hear the full interview)