Bucks over bullets, I hope.

The article may be accurate concerning rightwing campaigns by US militarists to paint China as a bogey. Meanwhile rightwing militarists in China see the US and its allies as military bogeys surrounding China.

However, a more influential relationship is probably US-China economic interdependence. This is a major influence shared by centrist politicians in both countries and their all important business communities.

Hopefully the centrist approach will keep rightwing solutions, that lead to conflict, at bay.

Well, who cares what the tea party thinks, or how many chairs they try to occupy simultaneously; or how many times they try to emasculate the American President?
Their, I believe, blatant blackmail activities and lunatics running the asylum influence, have already done immense economic harm!
And unless readdressed quickly, have the potential to do even more harm.
One needs a strong economy to afford a strong defense, which is arguably the best way to avoid conflict! [Use a velvet glove, but carry a big stick.]
You'd be forgiven for swearing blind, that the Tea party, were determined to render the US indefensible?
I mean, how much more can critical defense spending be reduced, before an expansionist energy dependent Beijing breaks out?
If the house republicans were genuine about reducing US spending and returning to a balanced budget, all they need do is, can the, [pure waste,] farm bill.
Australian and other farmers have learned to live without this level of support. [Would they but have the green fields of Kentucky, or that state's average rainfall or water resources!]
Moreover, the demand for both alternative energy and food now renders further farm subsidies entirely unnecessary!
Beijing doesn't need to commit her rapidly expanding military, just as long as she can buy what she needs in the global market place!
Besides, a rearmed Japan, Korea and Taiwan, if entirely united, would be more than a match for China and her sabre rattling ally, Russia.
Nor would Malaysia, the Philippines and or Indonesia likely remain completely neutral, given how many of their own interests be threatened by a successfully expanding energy dependent China; or how much weaker their own positions would be rendered, if China prevailed over any of the aforementioned, in any armed conflict?
Most of us would feel a little more comfortable, if Beijing had not already annexed neighbors, had a better human rights record, wasn't massively expanding her own military; or, finally granted the annexed provinces, genuine unfettered autonomy!
Rhrosty.

"I mean, how much more can critical (U.S.) defense spending be reduced, before an expansionist energy dependent Beijing breaks out?" asks Rhosty.

Given the gazillions that the per-capita U.S. military defense spending is the highest in the world and dwarfs that of most other nations combined, this is a silly question, almost imbecilic.

Rhosty obviously wants there to be a confrontation between the U.S. and China even though it would end up being nuclear in nature. Such thinking is madness because it involves MAD and the destruction of our planet.

And, stupidly, Australia is seen as being on the side of the U.S. given that we have allowed the Yanks to put their military boots all over our country!

Get real, Rhosty. We are not children playing with lead soldiers here. We are talking about human extinction arising out of American Imperialism.

Why don't you take up knitting?

Who is this kid, & what is he studying?

It really is horrifying to think that this garbage is possibly coming out of the International Relations department of a major Oz university as a serious discussion, rather than just an exercise. Hopefully it is just a desire to get published that produces this stuff, but who knows with our nutty academia.

As a junior naval officer, I was involved in "appreciation of the situation" exercises where the US & the UK were the enemy for gods sake. All defense forces indulge in these exercises.

Then again, you can bet we have plans for our defense against many invaders, including China, also including many other friendly nations. What do you people think all that brass in Canberra does, exercise the recruits? They indulge in planning scenarios, involving even the most unlikely events. It is how you learn to think strategically.

Of course the US will have plans to invade virtually every country on earth, even little old Oz. It is a wild flight of fantasy to think they would ever need to invade us, when we've already given them the keys to the place, but they would have it.

So take a few deep breaths, & let that mountain slip back to a mole hill.