This, so much. There's so much discussion of "the Chinese threat", but it's just not credible.
The only thing that China would want to invade Australia for is our resources, and they can just buy those. There is at least one mining operation in WA that is Chinese-owned, Chinese-run, entirely staffed by Chinese folks flown in direct from China, and exports the mined resources only to China. They just pay some taxes and royalties to Australia. That is vastly cheaper than any military solution for obtaining the same resources.
I think there's a section of Aussie society that would like China to be a credible threat so that it justifies more military and more fear. But it's just not.
The only thing that China would want to invade Australia for is our resources, and they can just buy those. There is at least one mining operation in WA that is Chinese-owned, Chinese-run, entirely staffed by Chinese folks flown in direct from China, and exports the mined resources only to China. They just pay some taxes and royalties to Australia. That is vastly cheaper than any military solution for obtaining the same resources.
I think there's a section of Aussie society that would like China to be a credible threat so that it justifies more military and more fear. But it's just not.