Skip to main content
Father's Day Sale — Get 40% off Vantage for yourself or as a gift
Published loading...Updated

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

The institute says China’s missile and submarine buildup could enable sustained strike operations against Australian targets by 2035.

  • On Sunday, June 14, 2026, the Lowy Institute reported that China's capability to conduct direct missile strikes on Australia is growing, driven by expanding weapon stockpiles and South China Sea island bases.
  • Beijing's expanding arsenal of long-range missiles, including the DF-26 and DF-27 with ranges up to 8,000km, significantly enhances its ability to strike the Australian mainland.
  • Analysts estimate the Chinese navy could operate 25 nuclear-powered attack submarines by 2035, providing the capacity to prosecute sustained strike operations against Australian targets through persistent patrol cycles.
  • Sam Roggeveen, director of the Lowy Institute's International Security Program, stated the analysis is "neither hawkish nor dovish," emphasizing that governments must assess military capability rather than just intentions.
  • The threat would "dramatically escalate" if Beijing established a military base in the Pacific or deployed long-range bombers, though China's primary military focus remains the Taiwan Strait.
Insights by Ground AI

19 Articles

Think freely.Subscribe and get full access to Ground NewsSubscriptions start at $9.99/yearSubscribe
Father's Day SaleGet 40% off Vantage subscriptions for yourself or a friend.Get Started

Bias Distribution

  • 54% of the sources lean Left
54% Left

Factuality Info Icon

To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium

Ownership

Info Icon

To view ownership data please Upgrade to Vantage

Sydney Morning Herald broke the news in North Sydney, Australia on Sunday, June 14, 2026.
Too Big Arrow Icon
Sources are mostly out of (0)

Similar News Topics

News
Feed Dots Icon
For You
Search Icon
Search
Blindspot LogoBlindspotLocal