Executive summary 1

Introduction 2

1. What are the People’s Liberation Army theatre commands? 3

2. Southern Theatre Command structure and capabilities 4

3. Potential roles for Southern Theatre Command in a Taiwan conflict 5

  Early long-range dissuasion/ disruption (missiles, space and cyber) 5

  Threat to Australia’s western and/or eastern sea lines of communication (submarines) 6

  Disruption of allied operations through our northern approaches (submarines and bombers) 6

4. Australia’s response to Southern Theatre Command capabilities 6

  Countering submarines 6

  Countering missiles and bombers 6

  Countering cyberattacks 6

  Countering disruptions in space 7

  Other areas 7

Recommendations 7

Conclusion 8