Thread. Australia's defence minister @lindareynoldswa is taking questions at @ASPI_org after giving a speech on the government's new defence strategy. She says Australia is willing to do more "heavy lifting" in the region by boosting its capabilities 1/
Reynolds says the post World War II order has collapsed. "The world that we grew up in is no more" she says. The consequences of this are profound 2/
The Defence Minister bats away a question on whether the US is now a less reliable partner in Asia - "No. The US is still the bedrock of peace and security in the region." But she says the balance of power has undeniably shifted 3/
Question: this is all about China isn't it? Reynolds - "This is not about any single country. It is about our deteriorating strategic circumstances." She says Australia wants to work with China but won't hesitate to call out bad behaviour in the region. 4/
Interesting. Reynolds says she is working on establishing a new "trilateral exercise" with Australia, India and Indonesia. Naval exercises? It's not clear.
Reynolds is asked how other countries in the region have responded to the new defence strategy. She says "the response from regional partners has been incredibly strong, very strongly supportive" but doesn't provide details beyond that 6/
Interesting discussion on grey zone warfare. The Chief of the Defence Force indicates Australia is adopting some grey zone techniques- "if you want to defend yourself or prosecute action in that ambiguous grey zone you need to think like those accustomed to grey zone tactics" 7/
For those following closely I’ve gone back, checked the tape. Odd phrasing, but seems to be a clear reference to a potential India-Indonesia-Australia naval exercise: “I’m now an interlocutor for India with Indonesia to start up a new trilateral maritime exercise series” 8/
