Expert warns Australians should be ‘seriously worried’ about war with China

A top defence expert says Australians should be “really, seriously worried” about the prospect of a war with China.

Peter Jennings, who served as Deputy Secretary of the Defence Department and is now executive director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, is one of five experts in The Age who have today sounded the alarm about the risk China poses.

He told Ross and Russel it’s imperative the Australian government has “an honest conversation with the Australian people about the risk we’re facing”.

Press PLAY below to hear why Mr Jennings thinks the risk of conflict with China is so high

Mr Jennings says Taiwan is most likely to be the “flashpoint” that sparks conflict.

“Their primary aim is to take over Taiwan and their second aim is to dominate the region, and for that to happen they need to destroy the American alliance and turn Australia from being an alliance partner of the US into a neutral which will be dominated by China in all of its policy choices,” he said.