What other reliable and sovereign country in the West is capable...

What other reliable and sovereign country in the West is capable of competing with China?

China's economy is a clever hybrid of capitalism and state control. While it embraces market mechanisms and private enterprise, the state maintains significant influence through ownership of key industries, strategic investments, and a powerful role in economic planning.

With Australia's large resources of raw materials that covers the periodic table, it can take China on which means a lot of investment flowing into Australai for their juniors to become big tier 1 players. This is not so good for our dominant tier 1 players who'd have enjoyed their market dominance, ie BHP, Rio Tinto, etc. However, collectively the western world's needs are more powerful than a few interest groups. Here's a quote from Madeleine King that I think alludes to this:

'It has been interesting to say the least to see some commentators claim the Government will distort market prices when these markets aren’t functioning properly in the first place.' Source: https://www.minister.industry.gov.au/ministers/king/speeches/speech-australian-financial-review-mining-summit

Participation in offtake agreements will be voluntary – there will be no obligations on industry. Offtake agreements are intended to secure offtake of priority minerals for strategic reasons – rather than to support commerciality of projects. But naturally, certainty of offtake may also help in some cases.

As tariffs and trade tensions cast a shadow over the global economy. There will be growing uncertainty everywhere else but to reroute their supply chain to Australia because it will have a Critical Minerals Strategic Reserve and a Production Tax Credit scheme that in a time of global uncertainty, positions it as a stronger and safer place to guarantee economic opportunity and resilience.

Albanese's agenda should be easily passed by the parliament with a weak government opposition that is made even weaker by a separation.

I'm sure DC will have a place at the table.

All IMO, DYOR, GLTA(patient)H