"Red Alert" Series Draws Renewed Criticism from Paul Keating on Third Anniversary

On March 7, 2023, nine Australian newspapers published a series titled "Red Alert," proposing that Australia should prepare for a potential military conflict with China within three years. Authored by Peter Hartcher and Matthew Knott, the series included perspectives from individuals critical of China and asserted a lack of government transparency regarding military preparedness. This publication has since drawn significant criticism, notably from former Prime Minister Paul Keating, who reiterated his objections on the series' third anniversary in March 2024.

Publication and Initial Content

The "Red Alert" series was prominently featured with a front-page warning, explicitly suggesting the possibility of "war with China within three years." It incorporated a report by a panel of five national security experts, which concluded that Australia needed to be prepared for conflict within a three-year timeframe. The series also contended that the government was not adequately transparent with Australians about military preparations for such a conflict.

Paul Keating's Initial Criticism

Following the series' publication in 2023, former Prime Minister Paul Keating publicly criticized it, describing it as "the most egregious and provocative news presentation of any newspaper I have witnessed in over 50 years of active public life."

Keating further commented that it was "way worse than the illustrated sampans shown to be coming from China in the buildup to the war in Vietnam in the 1960s."

Reiterated Criticism on Third Anniversary

On Friday, March 7, 2024, the third anniversary of the "Red Alert" series, Keating issued a statement reiterating his strong criticism. He asserted that "None of the claims have materialised." Keating characterized the series as one of the "most shameful episodes in the history of Australian journalism," specifically citing what he described as "lurid images of Chinese military aircraft descending upon Australia."

In his statement, Keating referred to Peter Hartcher, the international editor and primary author of the series, as "maladroit," a term he had previously used. He also commented that then-editor Bevan Shields permitted Hartcher to "concoct a China-threat story" with a group of "handpicked anti-China accomplices." Regarding the current editor, Jordan Baker, Keating expressed hope for a change in journalistic standards.

Keating further posited that the United States, rather than China, has been responsible for attacking other countries, referencing a recent "premeditated attack on Iran." He noted that China has not attacked a state in nearly half a century. Keating questioned Hartcher's continued employment given his assessment of the reporting.

Responses and Broader Commentary

Peter Hartcher addressed Keating's earlier criticisms in a 2024 opinion piece, where he labeled Keating as "Australia’s foremost apologist for the Chinese Communist Party" and attributed his critiques to "bloody-mindedness in retirement."

The "Red Alert" series also drew criticism from other commentators. Paul Barry, on Media Watch, described it as "hysterical and hyperbolic." Margaret Simons, writing for Guardian Australia in 2023, quoted foreign affairs specialists who characterized the series as "pretentious," "irresponsible," and "implicitly racist."

Nine, the publisher of the newspapers involved, and Hartcher both declined to comment on Keating's recent statements in March 2024.