China’s military dynamics in the Indo-Pacific region and its reflection on Australia’s security strategy (2021-2024)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Saman Pasand Aghajani ¹

Asghar Keivan Hosseiny ²

¹ M.A in International Relations. Allameh Tabataba’I University, Tehran, Iran.

² Professor, Department of International Relations, Allameh Tabataba’I University, Tehran, Iran.

10.22067/irlip.2026.92829.1657

Abstract

The Indo-Pacific region has become the main focus of discussions and attention in the international system due to China's increased military presence over the past decade. By taking advantage of its economic capabilities, China has sought to expand its political and military influence in this region in order to define and secure its national interests more broadly within the framework of hegemonic competition with the United States. The continuation of this trend has raised serious and growing concerns, especially among countries in the region, including Australia. Australia, as a regional power, strategic ally of the United States, and traditional player in the Pacific, is facing complex and multifaceted challenges in the areas of defense and security in the wake of China's escalating military interventions and presence. Therefore, the main question of the present research is: What impact has Beijing's increased military presence in the Indo-Pacific region had on Australia's security strategy from 2021 to 2024? The research findings show that Beijing's increased military presence in the Indo-Pacific region from 2021 to 2024 has, on the one hand, led to and exacerbated distrust and ambiguity in the Australian government's assessment of China's intentions, and on the other hand, has paved the way for a fundamental revision of Australia's security strategy, in the form of developing a comprehensive security approach to strengthen and maximize Australia's relative power in the region. This research uses a qualitative method and a descriptive-analytical approach.

Keywords

Indo-Pacific

China

Australia's security strategy

Offensive Realism

Military modernization

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