China has sent a chilling warning to Australia after the country's Defence Minister said it would be "inconceivable" for them not to join the United States should they take action to defend Taiwan.
Peter Dutton made the comments to The Australian newspaper last week, after US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken on Wednesday said the US and its allies would take "action" if China were to use force to alter the status quo over Taiwan.
"At the same time, I think it's fair to say that we’re not alone in this determination to make sure that we preserve peace and stability in that part of the world," Blinken said.
"There are many countries, both in the region and beyond, that would see any unilateral action to use force to disrupt the status quo as a significant threat to peace and security, and they too would take action in the event that that happens."
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In the latest show of unity between the US and Australia, Dutton told The Australian: "It would be inconceivable that we wouldn't support the US in an action if the US chose to take that action."
But China has now hit back at Australia, warning it to "be prepared".
"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," said Hu Xijin, editor-in-chief of state newspaper the Global Times.
"So Australia better be prepared to sacrifice for Taiwan island and the US."
China's military last week said it conducted a combat readiness patrol in the direction of the Taiwan Strait after its Defence Ministry condemned a visit by a US congressional delegation to Taiwan, the democratically governed island claimed by Beijing.
China has not ruled out using force to bring Taiwan under its control but has played down the notion that war is imminent.
