A senior US Army officer has emphasised the importance of strategic allies like Australia for building collective military strength to deter adversaries including China, while warning local defence and industry officials that a "fight is coming".
In candid remarks during last month's International Land Forces conference in Melbourne, visiting Brigadier General Frank J Lozano also expressed confidence that a "coalition of the willing" could outpace Beijing's rising regional dominance.
"We're not really in a one-for-one race with the PRC [People's Republic of China], because we understand that we will always go into a fight as a part of a coalition of the willing," General Lozano said during an address to a defence industry dinner.