Australia and its allies, including the US, have been concerned by a security pact signed by Solomon Islands and China which they fear will give Beijing a vital military toehold in the region. Assistant Defence Minister Andrew Hastie comments on Labor deputy leader Richard Marles vowing his party “will stand up to China” if elected, rejecting claims by Scott Morrison it has downplayed the threat to security in the Pacific. Chris asks the Minister how concerned we should be with the possibility of a Chinese military base in the Pacific. From an Army Reservist at university in Sydney right through to SASR – Special Air Service Regiment – the Minister notched up 14 years of service in the Armed Forces with two deployments to AFGHANISTAN and he shares with Chris what memories Anzac Day brings back for him.

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