China’s influence stressed

DEFENCE Minister Peter Dutton has described the scale of China’s expanding influence as “phenomenal”, as he defended Australia’s efforts in the Pacific.

Mr Dutton and Labor’s defence spokesman Brendan O’Connor squared off on national security and foreign engagement during their debate at the National Press Club on Thursday.

Asked if Australia was less safe today because of the freshly inked security deal between Solomon Islands and China, Mr Dutton didn’t answer the question directly.

“I don’t think we should pretend to the Australian people that we don’t live in an uncertain time,” he said.

“As we’re seeing right across the region, in fact right across the world, China’s influence into Africa, their influence into broader Asia, their influence into even Europe is quite phenomenal.”

Mr O’Connor disputed Mr Dutton’s suggestion there would be some benefit for China from Labor forming government.

“I don’t agree with the conspiracy theory that there’s a benefit for China given the position that Labor has taken in relation to China and its changed conduct,” Mr O’Connor said.