[andrewstuart]

Ironically, it was Australia via former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who alerted the USA to the true nature of the relationship with China. This happened when Turnbull urged the USA to ban installation of 5G by CCP controlled telecommunications companies. Australia alerting the world in this way is one of the reasons China became enraged with Australia and imposed a massive trade war against us.

There are, unfortunately, many people who when presented with modern reality, say things like “we need to stop being a slave to U.S interests”.

Many people I believe simply haven’t followed international affairs closely enough to realize what is actually happening, and they carry through 1970s “we are not a US colony” thinking to the present. I find it startling when people haven’t seen what is happening on our doorstep.

I for one am extremely glad of the US alliance and if anything want closer defence connections. We are going to need it.

It’s extremely concerning that the new Australian government has been working extremely hard to reestablish friendly and close relationship with China. This will come at a heavy price I fear.