There is declining support for Australia’s military involvement in combating terrorism in the Middle East, which may reflect some disillusionment about the course of military conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria.

In an 11-point fall from 2017, 50% of Australians support using Australian military forces ‘to fight against violent extremist groups in Iraq and Syria’. More Australians support military action against violent extremism when it is closer to home: 63% say they are in favour of using Australian military forces to ‘fight against violent extremist groups in Southeast Asia’.

The threat of genocide continues to provoke a strong response, with 80% of Australians saying they would support the use of Australian military forces to ‘stop a government from committing genocide and killing large numbers of its own people’. There are similarly high levels of support for the Australian military ‘to restore law and order in a Pacific nation’ (77%).

A majority of Australians (60%) would support the Australian military conducting freedom of navigation naval operations in the South China Sea and other disputed areas claimed by China. This is less support than recorded in response to a similar question in 2016 (74%) and 2017 (68%), when tensions in the South China Sea were a headline issue.

Australians are more hesitant about the use of Australian military forces in other potential conflicts with China. Only 43% of Australians are in favour of the Australian military becoming involved ‘if China invaded Taiwan and the United States decided to intervene’. Almost two-thirds of Australians (62%) would not support the use of the Australian military ‘if China initiated a military conflict with one of its neighbours over disputed islands or territories’.

Freedom of navigation in the South China Sea