Sky News host Chris Smith says China’s “adamant, hawkish talk” at the Shangri-La Defence Summit was “dark”.

“There seemed to be no backing down on the elephant in the room, Taiwan,” Mr Smith said.

“No retreat there from either the US or the Chinese side on their military plans if China makes an aggressive move, to unite the mainland with Taiwan.

"That kind of adamant, hawkish talk is not just dark - it reaffirms suspicions that sooner or later, the Taiwan issue may very well lead to war.

“A war Australia is obliged to engage in.”