Australia does need to be worried about “how 2021 is starting to unfold” as the risk increases of a “some type of military clash” with China, says the Australian Strategic Policy Institute’s Peter Jennings.
“What I’m talking about here is the significantly increased risk of some type of military clash, perhaps centred around Taiwan,” Mr Jennings told Sky News host Sharri Markson.
“A military clash taking place in the Indo-Pacific”.
“That is something that we can’t be complacent about.
“I think it comes at a time where we see America, inward looking, and in any event going through a very messy change of administration.”
Mr Jennings said something Australia has done “quite well” in 2020, is showing more international leadership and more willingness to “stand up for ourselves”.
“We better get prepared for more of that in 2021, I think it could be a very difficult year indeed”.