James Paterson urges Albanese govt to take warnings about China ‘very seriously’
Shadow Home Affairs Minister James Paterson has urged the Albanese government to take warnings about China stockpiling resources “very seriously” as conflict would be “utterly detrimental” to Australia.
There are concerns China is stockpiling supplies to endure an extended siege or even topple the world economy in its favour.
Former head of the US Office of Naval Intelligence Michael Studeman points to rapidly expanding reserves of oil, iron ore, copper, zinc and rare earth elements as evidence of ‘a storm from Beijing heading to Taiwan’.
James Paterson urges Albanese govt to take warnings about China ‘very seriously’
“We need to take warnings like this very seriously,” Mr Paterson told Sky News host Peta Credlin.
“Xi Jinping himself has said that he is willing to use force to annex Taiwan and subsume them into the People’s Republic of China.
“I’m not suggesting that there is going to be war imminently, but we have to be prepared for the possibility of conflict because it will be utterly detrimental.”