ABSTRACT
As a middle power in Asia, Australia’s security and the future challenges that it faces are linked to developments in both its regional and global environments. This chapter assesses Australia’s perception of the security threats and challenges to it a result of the complex and changing strategic environment both regionally and globally, and its responses in dealing with the evolving threat landscape. The fundamental changes in the international system present serious challenges for Australia, a country that has had a long-established pattern of reliance on a great power ally and on a Western-dominated international system. According to the 2016 Defence White Paper, the roles of the United States and China in the region, as well as their relationship with each other, will be the most important factors in the security and economic development of the Indo-Pacific region. The economic and military challenges that China poses raises the risk of regional and even global conflict.
