Sadly Australia's foreign policy is based on the dictates, demands and strategic requirements of the United States. Like the weak toady of the schoolyard bully Australia is left for the humiliation of others, not respected by perceived friends or foes.

My opinion, tear up phoney alliances, order the foreign mercenaries out, plot an independent non aligned policy, concentrate on self defence, and earn some bloody respect for ourselves in this world.

What has guaranteed our freedom thus far has been our alliances. And one cannot have too many strong alliances in today's world.

Going it alone would almost guarantee we become the southernmost state of an ebullient expansionist China. Thanks, but no thanks. We're not that stupid.
Alan B.

Dear Paul,

«Sadly Australia's foreign policy is based on the dictates, demands and strategic requirements of the United States.»

Yes, this is quite sad - so how many alternatives do we have that we can afford to reject India as well?

So you want to go neutral, like Switzerland?

I will not support such an attitude as "me and my doggie are OK and free so let Taiwan be eaten by the demons": Taiwanese people are presently relatively free, just like us in Australia, so would it be right to abandon them to the forces of evil?

A holocaust is presently being carried out against the Uighur people in China, and the Tibetan people are not in much better shape either - would you say the same in World-War-II about Germany and the Jewish holocaust? "Oh it's OK because they won't reach the shores of Australia"?

You want to concentrate on self-defense? Switzerland at least had just enough forces to deter Nazi Germany and be saved by the skin of their teeth, helped also by their mountainous topography - but what has Australia to show for itself? Any nukes? Any chemical or biological weapons? Any intercontinental ballistic missiles to carry them? Any serious submarine fleet that can threaten the Chinese shores? Lets talk again when it does!