"As far as I can ascertain none of our neighbours thanked us for our increased assistance. It seems to be taken for granted."

Well, there is an obvious response to that. Cut aid, and spend the savings on defence - and/or, do what China is doing. Australia is not a charity.

Since Australia is not a sentient being, it is nonsensical to speak of it having any "interest".

Trump was singular in his support for the indo pacific against Chinese BRI.

Unfortunately. Jolly Joe leads Psycho Sam down the road of appeasement , happily dumping out his allies as need be, in support of American profits.
Watch the ME and the dumping out of Israel, the copy book of our lot!

The enemy becomes the victim for application of rainbow magic potions, while friend becomes the enemy. Sad but true.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8576310/

Dan.

Any "aid" we give should always be as repayable loans.

Our aid needs to be with Australian made infrastructure, namely power generating assets, i.e., SMR MSR thorium.

These units can be fitted inside shipping containers and shipped or choppered almost anywhere where electricity is needed.

And as the world's cheapest electricity that also is carbon free and not needing miles or vulnerable wires! Real on the ground economic aid and a gift that keeps on giving decades past the presentation!


Absolutely affordable for even the poorest of the poor electricity can do more for our neighbours than almost anything else we could do or donate.
Alan B.

Repayable loans, yes. It works for China, and we need to be fighting fire with fire where the CCP is concerned. Can't repay? OK, we'll take the asset, thank you.