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Viktor小草's avatar

Hugh White really is a great realistic take, argues in good faith, very well researched, willing to argue both sides, etc.

This video is basically Australian defense policy:

“So under this scenario we’re spending close to 30 billion dollars a year to protect our trade with China from China?”

https://youtu.be/sgspkxfkS4k?si=KhTl4YmVxoAngYSj

Anthony van Dyck's avatar

You call him “Huge” White three times. Unless you know something about him the rest of us don’t, it’s *Hugh* White, lol

drllau's avatar

Another thoughtful thinker is Kevin Rudd https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szAChpVvQuk

One school of thought is that China is a civilisation state https://asiasociety.org/india/understanding-china-and-its-rise-civilization-state ... it never had the DNA of religious zeal (Spain), trade colonies (UK) or manifest destiny (US). However, what does security mean when increased forward defense (encirclement) leads to insecurity for another? I can see his point about AUKUS ... the role of subs is to scare shipping which seems redundant when the bulk of mineral exports go to .. China. However, the lack of participation in rule-setting and resolution eg UNCLOS is worrying. If you want might is right this only leads to arms race which doesn't benefit anyone.