Admiral Philip Davidson, due to take over the responsibility for co-ordinating U.S army, navy and air force actions in Pacific Command, which includes the South China Sea, says that “only armed conflict” can now prevent China from closing international sea lanes in the South China Sea. Everything is now set up for Chinese warships and combat jets to be introduced into the artificially created facilities

Australian warships in the SCS were confronted by the Chinese navy last week. Despite a ruling by the international arbitration court, China has illegally constructed artificial islands and bases after claiming sovereignty over the 3.5 square kilometre area. And, the West, including Australia, has just looked on, bleating about 'rights’ of passage.

It seems that we are going to need more than polly-speak to deal with China, but our inept and kow-towing politicians might have left it too late to deal with an arrogant, aggressive communist country they cannot bring themselves to believe in.

Typical of a hard right warmonger, this Admiral Brassbottom character can say “only armed conflict”. The truth is the Americans as per usual are itching for another war. This time with the new enemy China, what is China's real crime? They are becoming economically too powerful, and this threatens US dominance of the world economy.
As for Australia, "Australian warships in the SCS were confronted", what a sycophantic bunch, doing the dirty work as we do for our political masters in Washington.

"It seems that we are going to need more than polly-speak to deal with China" are we, ttbn is all gung-ho and ready for battle! Unfortunately the days when a gunboat sent up the Yangtze would be enough to scare the "bejesus" out of the yellow devils is long gone.

Wake up Australia!

It all seems pretty stupid to me.
Sure, China has expanded its military presence, but is it offensive or defensive in nature?
Given the US history of provoking, starting wars, and undermining other nations it feels threatened by (funded by endless debt citizens must repay), China may simply be acting 'prudent'.
They're a developing nation and have the world's manufacturing, they have no reason to be hostile unless the West acts against them.
With the US constantly sanctioning others and always dictating to everyone else and constantly looking to pick fights should we be surprised China built up a military presence there?
And what are we going to do?
Arm every man woman and child in the country to go fight China, at terrible odds?
Support the US and act tough sailing our ships around.
Our trade with our them and other Asian neighbours is more important.
Stupid waste of time and money grovelling to a US that has become toxic and irrelevant in every way, except for having a big military; that consists of outdated / overpriced / problem prone equipment and weapons..
- Time and money that would be better spent on our own national infrastructure, like China has.

AC,

Paul's idealogical idiocy is par for the course; but I am surprised by your attitude. Do yourself a favour and download Clive Hamilton's book from Google. Trade with China is NOT more important than our security against a totalitarian, Communist aggressor. And get used to the idea that we need America on our side more than ever. We are totally incapable of defending ourselves alone.

At this moment, Australia has enough fuel for only 50 days. What happens if - or when - China closes international sea lanes in the South China Sea!

As member of the International Energy Agency, Australia us SUPPOSED to - is REQUIRED to as a condition of membership - to have 90 days worth of fuel on hand. As far as I know, Australia has never had that much on hand.

So, let's all poke our heads up our own backsides and leave our fate to China, shall we?

ttbn,
"At this moment, Australia has enough fuel for only 50 days. What happens if - or when - China closes international sea lanes in the South China Sea! "
UN sanctions against China, probably. China knows this, so it's a very big IF, not when.

It wouldn't affect Australia's fuel supply, as that comes from Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore etc.