It is possible that we will never get the Aukus nuclear submarines. We should have gone with Abbott's 6,000km range Japanese diesel craft. We would have had them by now.

Meanwhile, the Albanese government, like the previous government, is not spending enough on weaponry that is available now, or in the short term.

'Aukus' is waved around like a magic wand that will keep China at bay.

"'Aukus' is waved around like a magic wand that will keep China at bay."

If anything it will accelerate Chinas plans to act before we & other probable adversaries become better armed.

Hasbeen

You would think so - if China intended to invade. But, perhaps they don’t need to: they are winning the economic, trade and psychological wars now. Through trade, and because of weak Western leaders, the PRC might be able to settle for dominance rather than occupation. The CCP doesn't distinguish between peacetime and wartime as we do. It is in a constant state of war.

So, perhaps we need not spend money on defence when China is going to get what it wants anyway.

Look what Covid, the Wuhan 'flu, did to the West. A couple of Chinese colonels have written a book that suggests the first move against an enemy is biological warfare.

China is picking off countries in Africa and Asia, and the likes of the Solomon Islands, and isolating them from the only country capable of fighting back, America. And, China has friends in high places in America as well. Read 'When China Attacks'.

"When China talks about winning without fighting, it essentially means without us fighting back. And that comes down to getting inside our heads and disabling us from inside".

"Just give a Westerner a whiff off cash, and more often than not, they'll deliver for the (CCP) Party".

China has already eroded Western power without firing a shot; so, perhaps talk of submarines, Aukus, Five Eyes etc. is just idle chatter from usless, frightened Western "leaders" pretending that they are doing something.

Yes ttbn China wouldn't want to do too much damage here, they would be wrecking what they mostly own. However they don't need to.

If they were to land a large force in the Northern Territory we would be out of weapons & men in just a few days, with our current capacity. They could simply drive to Canberra to accept the surrender.

If the US wish to protect their foreign investments, they should pay.
Likewise, if the Chinese wish to protect their foreign investments, they should pay.

I don’t see evidence the Chinese are stockpiling weaponry in the local area, if you do, show me where.

The Chinese, as I see the picture, are attempting to win hearts and minds with spending projects on infrastructure.
Show me where the US is usefully engaged with that purpose in mind.

The US stockpiling weapons in our back yard shows all the evidence of pending catastrophe for Australia; another losing US war here in Australia is not the outcome any sensible Australian wishes for himself.

Blindly following the US anywhere is disastrous by all evidence. What we now look at is not the US 1943 model; but if it were somewhat of a resemblance, then where is General MacArthur?
Then as now, the US will very gladly throw Australia under the bus again when it suits them.
As with Britain and the Commonwealth at the time, Australia made huge sacrifices to support their wealth model with absolutely no returns.

We’ve to be much smarter now, and stop ourselves falling for con jobs as is our fawning custom!