As the tension between China and Australia rises, thousands of US troops are being sent to prepare for a possible Chinese invasion of Taiwan.

The commander of the Australian Defence Force (ADF), Colonel Marcus Constable said that the Australia-US relationship is essential.

Colonel Constable said in a statement:

“It is a key way we increase regional cooperation with partners in the Indo-Pacific. Together we conduct a comprehensive range of training activities including humanitarian assistance, security operations, and high-end live-fire exercises.”

The troops will also be on hand to assist in Australia’s response to natural disasters.

Peter Dutton, Defence Minister who once warned that conflict with China ‘shouldn’t be discounted’ said on Wednesday that the US Studies Centre Beijing may look to annex Taiwan while the world is preoccupied with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Watch it here: Sky News Autralia/Youtube

Dutton said “There are actors within our own region who may see the war in Ukraine as a useful distraction and indeed an opportunity to pursue their own actions of aggression or coercion,”

“This threat of course chiefly emanates from Beijing which has its own openly stated territorial ambitions and which recently entered a no limits cooperative partnership with the Kremlin at a time when the rest of the world was pulling away.”

Mr. Dutton also warned Chinese rulers could be using the current war in Ukraine as “a useful distraction and an opportunity to pursue their own acts of aggression and coercion”, as talk over the superpower’s interest in securing contested territory in Taiwan grows.

“This threat emanates chiefly from Beijing, which has its own openly stated territorial ambitions, and which recently entered a ’no-limits’ cooperative partnership with the Kremlin,” he continued.

Joe Biden has publicly announced that he would defend the island if there will be attacks despite the officials who later said that he just “misspoke”.

Dutton has strongly indicated that Australian forces would assist the US should they aid in the defense of Taiwan.

Dutton said:

“It would be inconceivable that we wouldn’t support the US in an action if the US chose to take that action.”

“And again, I think we should be very frank and honest about that, look at all of the facts and circumstances without pre-committing, and maybe there are circumstances where we wouldn’t take up that option. I can’t conceive of those circumstances.” He added.

Sources: 100 Percent Fed Up, News.com, Advetiser, Daily Mail