Former Australian Army Major-General Jim Molan believes Australia must significantly and immediately expand its defence forces as fears grow China wants to invade Taiwan.
Speaking on last night's 60 Minutes, the Liberal senator and father of Channel Nine star Erin Molan said he believed Australia was 'monstrously vulnerable' in the face of a Chinese nation determined to demonstrate its dominance in the Western Pacific.
'We have this naive faith that American military power is infinite and it's not,' Mr Molan said.
'I believe that the Chinese Community Party's aim is to be dominant in this region, and perhaps dominant in the world.
'This is a zero-sum game. [China] must remove America from the Western Pacific in order to be dominant in this region, simple as that.'
Former Australian Army Major-General Jim Molan (pictured) said Australia was 'monstrously vulnerable' in the face of a Chinese nation determined to demonstrate its dominance in the Western Pacific
Jim Molan during his time as a major-general in the Australian army
His comments follow claims by Defence Minister Peter Dutton that Australia would necessarily be involved in any military response should China moves towards annexing Taiwan.
'[China's] been very clear about their intent to go into Taiwan and we need to make sure that there is a high level of preparedness, a greater sense of deterrence by our capability, and that is how I think we put our country in a position of strength,' Mr Dutton said at the weekend.
Mr Dutton's remarks sparked a response from Chinese government mouthpiece, tabloid newspaper The Global Times.
Its editor-in-chief Hu Xijin Tweeted on Saturday that 'if Australian troops come to fight in the Taiwan Straits, it is unimaginable that China won't carry out a heavy attack on them and the Australian military facilities that support them'.
Mr Molan's comments came after Defence Minister Peter Dutton said that Australia would necessarily be involved in any military response should China moves towards annexing Taiwan
In early October China flew a record 150 flights over Taiwan's protective zone, known as the ADIZ, in four days in its largest show of force to date near the island
Taiwanese soldiers march to position during an anti-invasion drill on the beach during the annual Han Kuang military drill in Tainan, Taiwan
Mr Molan said while the AUKUS deal for Australia to acquire nuclear-powered submarines was 'excellent' when it happened in another few decades, the problem was the next war would be 'three to 10 years' away.
'My estimate is that in a serious conflict the Australian Defence
