[blaser-waffle]

Australia may not be in NATO but they're still British Commonwealth, and in communion with the UK and Canada (who are founding NATO members) as well as the US.

Pick a fight with Australia and the ANZUS Treaty comes into force, and if the ANAZACs are in a fight, the US and UK will almost certainly be involved.

[ceejayoz]

Right, that's the point. The Asia theatre alliances may not be NATO, but there's enough NATO involvement in them to functionally work the same way.

Nuke Japan? You've picked a fight with NATO. Invade Australia? Same deal.