Australian Polity, Volume 10 Number 1 & 2

because they have been witness to regional military
expansion, a build-up on a scale and at a pace that, in a
historical context, has rarely been seen before. Indeed,
like-minded nations are waking up to difficult truths. That
vigilance is not, in and of itself, a sufficient strategy to
counter coercion. That in times of tension and uncertainty,
peace cannot be maintained from a position of weakness.
And that threats to sovereignty and security demand
action, not indifference.
That is why like-minded nations are not standing still in
the face of precarious circumstances in the Indo-Pacific.
Every defence initiative counts cumulatively towards
deterring aggression, strengthening regional stability
and maintaining peace.
“Like-minded nations are
taking steps to buttress
their own security,
bolster defence
co-operation bilaterally
and multilaterally, and
build partnerships.”
Peter Dutton is the Australian Defence Minister. The
article was first published in The Australian.
8 Australian Polity