China's increase in military spending of 6.8 per cent next year confirms how important the superpower's ambitions are in shaping Australia's defence strategy.

A Chinese Government budget report said Beijing will spend $272 billion on defence in the coming year despite the economic effects of the pandemic.

That is a rise from last year's $261 billion, which was a 6.6 per cent rise on the year before.

READ MORE: China tells Biden to reverse 'dangerous practice' on Taiwan

Australian security expert Sam Roggeveen told nine.com.au China's military expansion remains the major factor shaping Federal Government policy.

"China is absolutely critical to shaping our defence policy in the years ahead," Dr Roggeveen, Lowy Institute director of international security, said.

The big-spending increases of years past have given China the second-largest defence budget in the world behind the US.

With three million troops, the world's largest standing military has been steadily adding aircraft carriers, nuclear-powered submarines and stealth fighters to its arsenal.

Dr Roggeveen said the modernisation and expansion of Chinese maritime forces is of particular concern for Australia.

READ MORE: Another nuclear power joins the dispute in the South China Sea

"China now has the largest navy in the world in terms of ships, even thought some are of variable quality," Dr Roggeveen said.

China's military expansion under President Xi Jinping is largely designed to exert pressure on Taiwan and bring it under it Beijing's control.

But the South China Sea is another area where China is flexing its military muscle.

"Expanded maritime air power has also been increased over recent years," Dr Roggeveen said.

"China has built land-based medium-range bombers that can reach targets thousands of kilometres away."

Last year the Federal Government said it would increase Australian defence spending by 40 per cent over the next 10 years to buy longer-range strike capabilities across air, sea and land.

READ MORE: Four Chinese soldiers were killed in hand-to-hand combat with Indian forces

Dr Roggeveen said these included long-range hypersonic missiles being developed with the US.

But delays in the the strategically important future submarines project were concerning.

The first of the submarines to replace Australia's ageing Collins-class fleet is not expected until 2034, with the last due by 2054.

"There long-range capability is strategically vital for Australia," Dr Roggeveen said.

"And the length of time until they enter service is of concern."

https://twitter.com/ccroucher9/status/1369391929675374606?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

China's Pacific ambitions are expected to top the agenda in a virtual summit between US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Scott Morrison and the leaders of Japan and India on Friday.

Mr Biden will use the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue to build cooperation with US allies to counter China's strength in the Asia Pacific region.

– With AP

The remains of a Cold War-era Russian submarine once seen in a movie starring Harrison Ford caught fire in the US on Tuesday morning.

Workers in the city of Providence were using a blowtorch to cut it up for scrap when the blaze started, fire officials said.

The fire at a waterfront scrap yard sent a plume of black smoke over the city at about 9.30am local time but was quickly extinguished.

No one was hurt.

READ MORE: Cold war nuclear bunker hits the market in the UK

The hull is sheathed in a eight to 10-centimetre layer of rubber and that's what caught fire as workers cut into it with a torch, Providence Deputy Assistant Fire Chief Steve Capracotta said.

After the Cold War, the submarine known as Juliett 484 was sold and used as a restaurant and vodka bar in Helsinki, Finland, and as a set for the 2002 Ford movie 'K-19: The Widowmaker'.

The sub wound up in Providence because the Rhode Island-based USS Saratoga Museum Foundation bought it and opened it to the public as a floating museum in 2002.

It sank during a nor’easter in 2007 and was sold for scrap.

State environmental officials have been informed of the fire, Capracotta said.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says he won't move Attorney-General Christian Porter into a different role following historical rape allegations against the Cabinet minister.

Mr Porter was accused of raping a former debating teammate in 1988 in an anonymous letter sent to the prime minister's offices and several federal MPs.

Mr Morrison stood firm on his stance today that Mr Porter was an "innocent man" under Australian law.

"No, I wouldn't consider moving him to somewhere else," he said.

READ MORE: Julie Bishop critical of response to rape allegations

"He is a fine Attorney-General and a fine Minister for Industrial Relations, he is an innocent man under our law."

The woman at the centre of the allegations took her own life last year after telling police she no longer wanted to proceed with a formal complaint.

NSW Police announced last week it had closed its investigation due to "insufficient admissible evidence".

Mr Porter strenuously denied the allegations in a media conference last week, saying what he was accused of "simply did not happen".

The prime minister said every Australian was entitled to the same rules of law, no matter their position or title.

"To suggest there should be some different treatment applied to him, based on what had been allegations that the police have closed the matter on, I think it would be grossly inappropriate to take actions against him on that basis," Mr Morrison said.

"There is no basis for doing that at all and when it comes to the principles upon which we run our country, that would be highly inappropriate.

"No Australian faces a different law to any other Australian."

Mr Porter, who has taken leave, is not expected to return to parliament next week.

Mr Morrison said Mr Porter has not indicated a date he would return to work.

A witness in an Invercargill murder trial yesterday said she could not tell if the person she saw on a video call was a woman — as she was so badly beaten.Crown witness Keely Wickliffe gave evidence on the second day in the High…

Open the transtasman bubble – that is the call from National Party leader Judith Collins, who says New Zealand’s tourism sector is “desperate”. Collins this morning said New Zealand and Australia had done well to reduce the threat…

The mother of Matt Harris and grandmother of his baby daughter Ruby, who were killed in a car crash last September, says she does not see the man who caused the crash as a killer.Cathy Harris stood before Wilson Prasidh Narayan,…

A man is in hospital after suffering burns in a caravan fire at an Ashburton holiday park overnight. Fire crews, ambulance staff and police were called to the Coronation Park Holiday Park, on East St, about 11pm. DO YOU KNOW…

Queen Elizabeth has broken her silence on her grandson Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's explosive tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey.

In a very short statement released by Buckingham Palace on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen, the 94-year-old monarch says issues raised by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex would be dealt with privately.

"The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan," the statement says.

"The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning.

"While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately.

"Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved family members."

WATCH NOW: The Crown In Crisis – a 9News special

https://twitter.com/CGreenbank9/status/1369340411010035712

Pressure had been mounting on the Palace to respond to Prince Harry and Meghan's allegations of ill treatment by the royal household in the interview which aired in the US on Sunday.

It was understood the Queen had been in crisis talks with senior members of the family for two days and it had been her call to delay making any statement sooner.

Palace staff are believed to have suggested putting out a statement on Monday night (Tuesday AEDT), when the interview aired to an audience of 11 million in the UK. The Times of London says it was the Queen who wanted more time to consider what they would say.

'She can't not say anything'

While the Palace often tries to stay above controversy by remaining silent and riding out the storm, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's charges are so damaging to the royal family that it had no choice but to publicly respond, royal biographer Angela Levin said.

The author of Harry, a Biography of a Prince said there had been little doubt that ultimately the 94-year-old monarch would make her decision based on what was best for the 1000-year-old institution she has led since 1952.

"The Queen has a motto: Never complain, never explain,'' Levin told The Associated Press.

"And she's stuck with this for four decades. But I think in this climate and 2021, everything goes everywhere. There's so much social media that in this instance, she really can't not say anything."

READ MORE: Piers Morgan storms off at criticisms from co-host over Meghan attack

The Palace wanted to avoid inciting any further tension or a statement that may further undermine the monarchy.

"I think that one of the major worries is you don't want to throw oil on the flames to make it even worse," Levin said.

The other issue raised is that the UK's opposition party, Labour, has called for an investigation into allegations raised by the Duchess of Sussex, particularly the allegation of racism.

It was just last week where they put out that controversial rare statement saying they were very concerned about allegations Meghan had been bullying staff and they were launching an HR investigation into that.

They may now feel pressure to launch a similar HR probe into the new allegations as well.

Wall-to-wall coverage continues in the UK, adding to the enormous pressure on the royals to respond.

Overnight, Meghan's estranged father Thomas Markle gave his own bombshell interview with scathing criticisms of his daughter and son-in-law, and commentary including that he did not believe the royal family was racist and dismissed an allegation of racism as "bullsh–".

Meghan told Winfrey that when she was pregnant with her son Archie, there were "concerns and conversations" within the palace about how "dark" her child's skin would be when he was born.

"I have great respect for the royals and I don't think the royal family are racist at all," Mr Markle told Good Morning Britain from Rosarito in Mexico.

https://twitter.com/piersmorgan/status/1369213156392906762

"The thing about what colour will her baby be or how dark will her baby be, I'm guessing and hoping it's just a dumb question from somebody. It could just be that simple, somebody's asked a stupid question rather than it being a total racist."

Controversial breakfast television host Piers Morgan, meanwhile, stormed off his own show after a spat with another presenter over his treatment of the Duchess.

If you or someone you know is in need of support contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or the Suicide Callback Line on 1300 659 467.

– Reported with Associated Press

Kiwi mums suffering from postnatal depression are taking their own lives because they have no one to turn to. First-time mums have described being left alone after traumatic births during lockdown. A powerful public movement in Parliament…

New Zealand pride goes on the line today when America’s Cup racing begins – with a Covid twist on crowd numbers.Today’s racing between defender Team New Zealand and Italian challenger Luna Rossa will begin from 4.15pm on either…