The rhetoric around the Solomons and China deal has ramped up with Australians being told they need to be prepared for war.

The comment comes from Defence Minister Peter Dutton just hours after Scott Morrison said a Chinese military base in the Solomons would be a red line for his government.

Questions are being raised as to whether this is  just posturing from Dutton or a symptom of global insecurity because of the situation in Ukraine and the ever present threat of China.

Former Australian High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea Ian Kemish joined Mike Hosking.

LISTEN ABOVE