Timing............political strategy to have ScoMo re-elected because:
-the prospect to offset job losses in SA due to the Froggy Sub Cancellation -if there is going to be a serious confrontation between the USA & China it will have to be before 2030 if the US wants to have a reasonable chance of winning.(this would rule out the Aus 8 subs) -Post 2030 China will likely have passed out the USA in GDP, completed its "Made in China 2025", consolidated its BRI by sourcing its vital materials outside the US alliance and shoring up its export customer base & equipping its armed forces with state of the art hardware & software including space surveillance etc.
We can all see how China has progressed technically, industrially & economically over the past decade & IMO, 8 Aus Subs by 2040 is not of big significance to them. IMO the prospect of US trade sanctions which Aus would follow would be a bigger and more immediate concern to China * because that would cripple China's economic growth and industrial development and clearly define who is with the USA & who is not!
China has already taken action on Iron Ore by limiting demand. This has seen IO price drop by 50% over 2 months! )
* China in conjunction with RIO is accelerating its development of its mega African Iron Mine in anticipation of Trade Sanctions, IMO.
