Australia's Defence Policy In 2023 Explained | Utopia
Chairperson: I'll come straight to the point. This white paper is recommending we spend close to $400 Billion dollars, and at some point the Prime Minister is going to asked a very simple question: "In order to protect us from which enemy?"
Colonel: It's so hard to say..... A regional player.
Chairperson: Specifically, Colonel?
Colonel: An Indo-Pacific regional player.
Chairperson: More specifically?
Colonel: An Indo-Asia Pacific player.
Chairperson: That's broader, who're you leaving out? I sort of need a country or unaligned player that might threaten us. Just one.
Colonel: I wouldn't want to raise tensions in this room.
Chairperson: You know what, I will just name one and you just nod. China.
*All participants nod in agreement*
Chairperson: What exactly are we protecting?
Colonel: Strategic interests.
Chairperson: Specifically, Colonel?
Colonel: Indo-Pacific strategic interests
Chairperson: Really specifically?
Colonel: Indo-Asia Pacific strategic interests
Chairperson: You know what, I'll say it and you nod. Our trade routes.
*All participants nod in agreement*
Chairperson: And who's our number one trading partner? China?
*All participants nod in agreement*
Chairperson: So under this scenario we're spending close to $30 Billion dollars a year to protect our trade with China..... from China?
*All participants nod in agreement*
Chairperson: And that doesn't strike anyone at this table as odd?
*All participants shake their heads to mean they don't see it as odd.*