Defence Minister Richard Marles has emphasised the strategic significance of the Henderson Naval Base in WA, particularly given its shared longitude with Beijing.

Mr Marles pointed to its location as a “fulcrum of the Indo-Pacific”, amid growing regional tensions with China.

The Albanese government announced it would invest a further $12 billion in the naval base ahead of the delivery of submarines under the AUKUS pact .

“I think Perth right now is as significant a geostrategic place in Australia… because it is literally the fulcrum of the Indo-Pacific,” Mr Marles told Sky News Sunday Agenda.

“We are much closer here in Perth to places like the South China Sea and the East China Sea to our north. We're also at the gateway of the Indian Ocean.

“And the Indian Ocean itself is becomi

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