New research shows how vulnerable Australia would be to attacks on shipping in the Indian Ocean
New war-game simulations conducted by international researchers suggest that Australia's maritime trade routes are highly vulnerable to disruption in the Indian Ocean. The study highlights the risks posed by China's expanding naval presence and the potential for economic fallout from shipping attacks.
Why it matters
It underscores the strategic importance of maritime security for Australia's economy and raises questions about the reliability of US defense commitments in the Indo-Pacific.
The open-and-shut nature of the Strait of Hormuz in the US-Iran war has brought home how vital maritime trading routes are to a country like Australia, which conducts 99% of its global trade by sea .
Protecting Australia’s supply of critical goods – and exports of minerals, liquefied natural gas and agricultural products – requires maintaining maritime security across vast distances and countering threats far from Australia’s coasts.
This task is becoming increasingly challenging as China’s naval presence expands in the Indian Ocean.
Recently, a team of researchers from Stanford University, La Trobe University and Australian National University conducted a series of simulations to test the vulnerability of Australia’s economic and strategic lifelines.
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