PLA soldiers pose with US marine. Photo from Flickr, courtesy of U.S. Army.
After the Defence White Paper, it's time we talked about war with China
After the Defence White Paper, it's time we talked about war with China, writes Hugh White.
Whether Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull intended it or not, his new Defence White Paper has been widely interpreted as sending a clear message that Australia is willing to join our allies in using armed force if necessary to defend the 'rules based global order' from China's strategic ambitions in Asia. Moreover, most people apparently think that's a good message to send.
So it seems wise to ask whether this message is really true. Would we go to war with China over any of the issues which now loom as tests of the future order in Asia — in the Spratlys, or the Senkakus, or even Taiwan?
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