The minister charged with revamping Australia’s arsenal says Washington shares Canberra’s concern that China is building up its military “without any of the strategic trust or transparency we would expect”. Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy is in the US meeting with senior defence and Trump administration officials for updates on AUKUS – the $368bn plan to arm Australia with nuclear-powered submarines. Coming three weeks after China launched a nuclear capable missile into the South Pacific, Mr Conroy said on Wednesday (AEST) the rare test came up in his meetings. Camera Icon Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy says China is building up its military ‘without any of the strategic trust or transparency we would expect’. “We’re seeing that the build-up of the Chinese military, without any of the strategic trust or transparency we would expect.