"... or to be more accurate, in the Indo-Pacific". Yes. The 'we live in Asia' rubbish was knocked on the head via a White Paper in 2017.

“The Indo–Pacific democracies of Japan, Indonesia, India and the Republic of Korea are of first order importance to Australia, both as major bilateral partners in their own right and as countries that will influence the shape of the regional order.”

In 2019, Scott Morrison said to an Asialink forum, "The Indo-Pacific is where we live.”

How prophetic is a casual word?

I once said on these pages, more in jest than in seriousness, we need to plan a link to Indonesia with a bridge. And also learn to live with a country which has a Muslim majority.

I think the Chinese may win that race. Then what?

Dan

The sleeping giant is finally fully awake and understanding its peril! And has the capacity as a unified nation to ramp production to lead the world in the manufacture of military weaponry/nuclear-powered warships and subs! And it cannot waste a minute if it doesn't want to vacate the field to its global rival, China!

We can help with raw material in exchange for essential manufacture and machines we can use to make stuff here. 3D printers, electric vehicles, VLATO autonomous aircraft for resupply and air rescue/air vac and surveillance etc.

Its major advantage, it's one of the youngest nations on earth, population-wise. And can probably put more young people into new factories, at significantly lower labour costs, than that industrial giant, China?
Alan B.

A bridge, Dan? How about a prefabricated tunnel we can make in a factory and just lay on the seabed? that links Indonesian Timour, Indonesia, NG, NG and us? Backdoor and alternate front door/escape hatch? And just pump it dry when connected? When it could be used exclusively by electric vehicles! One of which could be a fast freight train carrying trade goods/resupply in either direction?

It'd make much more sense than trying to use sea links during a possible conflict with an adversary as large as China? Or during an extreme weather event just when it couldn't be more unhelpful!

We would be wise to think in that direction rather than building easily destroyed bridges. Other than that, we could develop an alliance against a probable common adversary?

Just as long as we and they can isolate the fanatical anti-Australia, cage-rattling cowardly, fanatics Like those who gleefully bombed peaceful UNARMED Australian tourists in Bali! Me? I'd parachute them into China as locked and loaded suicide bombers haloed from stealth bombers? If they want martyrdom status? 2 birds, one stone?

It's an idea with considerable merit, Dan! But where's the statesman that con negotiate it? Dr Marhata perhaps? Maybe when they are under attack from the north? ScoMo?

Wadda ya reckon?
Alan B.

Alan B

Any alternative to wasting $300b on submarines. A fundamentally stupid extravaganza of monumental proportions.

A tunnel would be cheaper and vastly more valuable.
But a well defended sea lane is an economical alternative.

PS I notice with interest, your reference to Bali bombers.
Was that a reference to futuristic events or historical events inclusive of yoursel?

Dan