Plantagenet,
Again you're failing to properly look to the future. You've failed to realise we'll be far less dependent on oil in 2030 than we are now.

Also you seem to be envisaging an ultra-rogue China - have you failed to notice that this would be strongly against China's own interest, as it would make other countries far more reluctant to trade with China?

Military threats will not solve trade disputes.

We might need those subs soon because it looks like Soot is trying to provoke a war with China.

What is going through that guy's mind? Is he actually aware of what he is doing?

Angering China by making a military pact with Japan to the disadvantage of China is not a pathway to regional stability.

And this year's Golden Dummy of the Year Award goes to Sooty Boy!

Here, I just found this:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8962087/China-launches-extraordinary-attack-Australia.html?ito=push-notification&ci=52410&si=20915243

Abandon all hope, ye who enter here. The more nations with nuclear weapons the more chance that an individual in one of those with authority to set off one of those weapons will have a deranged episode & do so setting off a deadly nuclear exchange. For our own safety we must not get nuclear weapons and must try to persuade other countries with such weapons to abandon theirs. Apparently South Africa has given up nuclear weapons. Nuclear weapons can destroy. They cannot protect. They don't even deter. Nuclear weapons did not prevent the Israeli-Egyptian wars even though Israel had such weapons at the time. The Israelis could obliterated Cairo but had the good sense not to.

and China, or whoever, takes out the sub base and where are you then?

Australia is a big country in area, but a small one in all other terms.

And here's the other one who is dragging us into a war with China:

http://www.msn.com/en-au/news/world/china-shuts-down-australian-led-effort-to-ease-trade-tensions/ar-BB1b8U0w?ocid=msedgntp

He's just been told by Beijing “those who created problems shall be the one responsible to solve the problems”.

You can see him thinking to himself: "What the hell has Soot gone and done now? First the bushfire disaster and now this!"

Simon Birmingham told ABC this morning they would negotiate with China but when the ABC news reader pointed out that the Chinese are refusing to talk to Australia he went as pale as a stoned mullet and couldn't come up with a reply.

What has old Mr. Opinion been warning you about all these years? Start brushing up on your Mandarin folks because you are going to need it long before the fat lady sings.