"as the Western world ultimately (and rightfully) unites to check the power aspirations of the CCP", that's a bit grandiose there Chris. We just may be waking up a bit to late.

With the poms gone, I doubt the whole EU defense would be enough to beat ours. I guess they could throw broken windmill blades at the Chinese, fitting as that is where they came from. The poms just might whop us, but not by much, & the US depends on China for almost the total of the electronics required for their military to function.

The yank navy may still be able to contain the Chinese at the moment, but even if it can, it will only be until the Chinese made spare parts run out.

Much as I find it disgusting, I don't believe we have any option but to bite our tongue, unless we want to rapidly return to the stone age, & I ma not sure we have the skills to survive there.

Actually do we have the skills for anything other than to tap away at a keyboard or phone?

Hasbeen,

Yes, I believe the West will prevail.

If not, the world will divide into two spheres. International institutions will capitulate as western nations leave if the CCP gets its way.

Not sure what you are saying about typing an opinion? Are you saying I, or we, cant even talk about it.

Last thing Australia needs is obedience or quiet about the CCP, and every forum counts.

Hasbeen,

I think you underestimate the longstanding leadership of liberal democracies, albeit the US and UK have shown some decline.

The CCP response to Australia shows the many advanced liberal democracies just what to expect.

And I expect that the US and UK will be amongst the leading players that can uphold western leadership and what it offers to the world, despite major policy differences between the US and UK govts and others.

Then there are other major Western powers like France and Germany, as well as Japan and India.

Do you honestly think that this collective of major powers are going to sit back and let the CCP wipe the floor of such powerful competition? Very unlikely

And I doubt there will be a military conflict, as too much risk.

But, even if Chinese military might surpasses the US, the collective opposition will be more than a match to reduce such military risk.

The CCP will never have the ideological appeal to win over the world. All the CCP has is the right ingredients to be hated, notwithstanding the power of the purse it has with no democratic accountability.

If the whingers think US leadership was bad, heaven help them if the CCP surpasses the US one day.

It is a possibility I refuse to believe will happen

I think Hasbeen paints a pessimistic picture, but a depressingly accurate one.

The Chinese have recently achieved, without firing a single shot, what the Japanese failed to do in 1943, take control of New Guinea, and position themselves on our doorstep in the Torres Straights.

I think Hasbeen is overly optimistic, with his assessment of our military capability.

All will be lost by prevaricating whether or not China is a hostile threat. The sooner Australia declares China officially a hostile force, the more advantage we may salvage.

Dan

Chris Lewis dreams.

*... And I expect that the US and UK will be amongst the leading players that can uphold western leadership and what it offers to the world, despite major policy differences between the US and UK govts and others...*

With your choice of lame duck US president, I don’t think so.

Dan