China’s direct strike threat to Australia is ‘growing’, think tank report finds

An Australian think tank, the Lowy Institute, has reported that China possesses the capability for a direct missile strike on Australia, and this threat is increasing. The report identifies Chinese missiles launched from ships, submarines, and a new intermediate-range ballistic missile as the primary concern. This growing capacity is attributed to China's accumulation of long-range and hypersonic weapons, as well as its construction of islands in the South China Sea. The Lowy Institute anticipates that China's ability to strike Australia will expand over the next decade with the increased deployment of missiles such as the DF-27 and potentially conventionally armed intercontinental ballistic missiles.