Australian ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd has pushed back against claims Canberra needs to step up its contribution to the collective deterrence of China in the Indo-Pacific, telling a security conference that Australia had already done the things now being asked of it by the Trump administration.

USSC CEO Dr Michael Green was quoted in the article saying Australia, Japan and South Korea recognised they had to increase defence spending, but the Trump administration’s aggression and tariff threats were undermining the cause.