Australian defence minister warns China risks sparking arms race

Richard Marles outlines vision of economic cooperation and military deterrence but warns lack of transparency can upset balance

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China's military buildup must be accompanied by transparency and reassurances to its neighbours or risk triggering an arms race, Australia's deputy prime minister and defence minister, Richard Marles, has said.

Speaking in Singapore at the Shangri-La Dialogue on Saturday, Marles laid out a vision of economic cooperation balanced with military deterrence, but sounded a warning about militarisation in the Asia Pacific.

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