This was not just Aust's strategy. We had no choice but to take advantage of booming freer trade.

US policy towards economic growth advantaged China.

It is always very hard to get right policy settings,but the West tried.

But now the time has come for a serious Cold War showdown.

Chris,

Cold War? If we're lucky!

The CCP has plans for its burgeoning nation-state. It has an industrial complex and pliant citizenry now all it needs to complete the picture of a successful nation-state is an empire.

And you guessed it! Australia is up for grabs.

It's got everything the CCP is looking for: land and resources to transplant its masses and it even comes complete with a ready made Chinese population and culture.

Senator Penny Wong has some interesting advice on the
China situation.

She says - that Australia does need to become more
self-reliant in protecting and promoting its interests.
That it needs to take a leadership role and by that she
means - we need to form deeper alliances with other
countries in the face of China's attempt at escalating
and growing its footprint over the globe.

What is concerning to her is the fact that - in the
United Nations 4 of the 15 specialized agencies are
headed by Chinese nationals while many Beijing-backed
candidates including World Health Director-General -
Tedros Adharom Ghebreyesus - have been elected to
senior positions.

This Senator Wong believes is part of Beijing's growing
influence over the multilateral system and is consistent
with Chinese President Xi Jinping's expressed intention
in 2017 that "reforming and developing the global
governance system" was a major foreign policy priority.

Senator Wong reminds people that - Australia has a long
history of making international institutions more effective
and equitable, and needs to support key candidates and more
actively promote the nation's expertise within global
bodies.

In 1941 Australia had in the north a number of people who preferred an Asian overlord to their French, English, Dutch and American overlords. They are now enjoying independence, have found out an Asian overlord isn't so great and can be allies of Australia against China. It's up to Australia to secure their alliance.

Someone in this thread wrote, "Yuyutsu, the Chinese couldnt even win a fist fight against Indians. I dont think we need to be too concerned about their ability to wage actual war. They have lots of people. Thats it."

The above is nonsense. Any people can fight given motivation, organisation, leadership and weapons. The Nazis sent millions of Jews to their deaths, and that was the stereotype of Jews. With Israel there is a new stereotype. China today is no longer the China of the Opium Wars.

David, its not 1941, you are completely out of touch with modern Asia.

Foxy and david f,

These are dangerous times with nation-states starting to take sides against China.

Over the past 30 years Australia's politicians, bureaucrats and business people lacked the knowledge and foresight to make sense of the path China was going down. People in Australia are now starting to realise they have painted themselves into a corner and I don't think anyone will come to the rescue in time to fend off an invasion of Australia.

Big question now is what act will trigger a hot war in the Indo-Pacific. All the conditions are there, just takes something to ignite the powder keg.