Australian Greens Senator David Shoebridge challenges AUKUS and China sea‑lane threat

Greens defence spokesman David Shoebridge warned that Australia is too small to police distant sea lanes such as the Strait of Malacca and argued that buying nuclear‑powered submarines under the AUKUS pact is "ridiculous". He said the sole rationale for the submarines is to project force thousands of kilometres from Australia and warned against “going down a warpath with Washington” in response to China’s military build‑up in the South China Sea. Shoebridge called for a realistic view of China, a balanced regional approach, and a modest defence mix that includes manned and unmanned platforms rather than expensive crewed subs. The debate intensified after the United States amended its offer to provide Australia three used Virginia‑class submarines instead of the originally planned two used and one new vessel. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese dismissed Shoebridge’s criticism, reaffirming the need for the assets and the partnership with traditional allies. Other Labor figures, including former minister Ed Husic, have also voiced concerns about the strategic and sovereign implications of AUKUS.