Australië wil realistisch omgaan met de groeiende militaire macht van China

Australia struck a conciliatory tone toward top trading partner China as it said that Beijing's rising defense capabilities are a natural outcome of its growing economy, according to a new strategy outlined in Australia's Defence White Paper 2013, released on Friday.

"The government does not approach China as an adversary. Rather, its policy is aimed at encouraging China's peaceful rise and ensuring that strategic competition in the region does not lead to conflict," the defense strategy said.

The white paper's welcoming attitude toward China's peaceful rise demonstrates Australia's emphasis on its ties with China, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Friday.