We are backing the US to the hilt whose sole mission is to wreck the Chinese economy on which we are well over 30% economically dependant while the best that Uncle Sam can do for us tradewise is to sell us 6 subs @ $400 billion (likely a $trillion by delivery time in 2045!)
IMO unless we improve relations with China ,we'll be stone broke by then.
China saved us from recession during the US induced GFC and the best thank you that we can offer now is to declare China as our #1 enemy.
If the roles were reversed, we have no compunction about sinking China Economically but our Uncle Sam ass-lickers in Canberra can't see the economic risk we're taking.
Of course the answer is economic planning: -downstream process our minerals & manufacture to meet global demand -diversify trade away from China while adding Aus value -equitably distribute the benefits (eg: rise the tax fee threshold for Aussie workers from $18200 to $45K) -retire our national debt .
Then we can afford to independently defend ourselves
And what are we doing...sending our warships within cooey of China and having a skirmish in the Yellow Sea
Over a year ago we had drama when one Chinese surveillance ship sailed through international waters via the Torres Strait on its way home from having mapped the Indian Ocean seabed offshore WA.
IMO China will "do us slowly" (to borrow a Keating phrase) and we'll be too stupid to realise its happening .
They have already sent an economic "shot across the bow" when ScoMo sided with Trump a few years ago with anti-China rhetoric .
