Defence Minister Richard Marles is challenging Beijing to make clear that it opposes the invasion of another sovereign state, while repudiating claims that western governments, including Australia, possess a deep rooted hostility towards China.
Amid heightened tensions in the Indo-Pacific, Mr Marles will speak at the Shangri-La defence forum in Singapore on Saturday, challenging Beijing to clarify its support for international rules and institutions.
“China making clear – in word and deed – that it does not support the invasion of a sovereign country in violation of the UN Charter, consistent with China’s own longstanding commitment to the Charter’s founding principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity, would be a huge vote of confidence in Chinese regional and global leadership,” Mr Marles will say.
“The importance of this cannot be overstated. Confidence – and indeed trust – in Chinese leadership will be the single most important ingredient to the maintenance of the global rules based order. And by extension it will be at the heart of building a stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.”
Mr Marles will also warn that a “stable and sustainable regional order” cannot be achieved without China taking a leading role, while equally it would also be impossible if China continues to pursue its strategic objectives without reference to the sovereign rights of its neighbours, or the obligations imposed by international law.
Recent actions taken by Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea, including the use of water cannons and the ramming of Philippine vessels, were a “serious escalation of tensions” Mr Marles will say, before adding that China’s behaviour towards Taiwan had generated “similar concerns”.
“PLA exercises that practice attacks and blockades of Taiwan do not inspire confidence that China prioritises – or is planning for – a peaceful settlement to the status of this island and its 22 million people,” he will say.
“That the PLA has made a record number of incursions across the median line in the Taiwan Strait this year is part of this increasingly concerning trend.”
The Defence Minister will also hit back at claims that Western democracies were ultimately resolved to conquer Beijing.
“There has been a view, sometimes expressed by Chinese officials, that the West is asking China to help defeat Russia so it then has a freer hand to defeat China itself,” Mr Marles will say.
“This view is reliant on the idea of indelible Western hostility to China.
“That is totally wrong.”
Pointing to the economic rise of China, which has lifted hundreds of millions out of poverty, Mr Marles will eschew claims that Australia and other democracies are opposed to China’s continued growth.
“There is no indelible hostility to China,” Mr Marles will say.
“It is about how we build a safer world and a safer region.”
In a sign of re-engagement between China and western powers, the US and Chinese defence ministers will meet in person on the sidelines of the dialogue after military communications were shut down between the two nations in 2022.