rudd's submarine deterrent

Just read some of the leaks.

Rudd to Clinton : Said the planned build-up of Australia's navy - later revealed in the May 2009 Defence White Paper to include a dozen attack submarines - was ''a response to China's growing ability to project force''.

This is Keystone Cops stuff. A dozen leaking rattly Diesel subs a response to a nuclear power's growing "ability to project force"?