Year 10: Military - China

1. What does the authour mean when he says that there is a 'strategic shadow' that looms over everything? How does this relate to the US?
   
   The author means that this relates to the US President decision to pull out of troops in Afghanistan  more quickly than his generals want. Ever since he was elected, Obama has wanted to pivot away from the endless miseries of the Middle East and Central Asia
2. What does the author propose regarding uranium sales to India?
   
   
   December's Labor Party had conference to end the ban on Australian uranium sales to India. This is about the strategic relationship with India.
   
   
3. What mistakes does the author say that Gillard has made in the region?
   
   The author said that On illegal immigrants coming by boat, her East Timor solution, the premature announcement of the Malaysian people-swap deal, and the abrupt suspension of the live cattle trade with Indonesia, were all the mistakes made by Gillard against public service advice.
4. How has China save us from these mistakes?
   
   Southeast Asians are so concerned by China's massive militarisation, and its aggressive actions in the South China Sea and East China Sea, that they are cleaving close to the US, and close to us as well.
5. What does the quote 'cleaving close to the US and close to us' mean?
   
   the quote "cleaving close to the US and close to us', means that China is slowly bonding with these countries.
6. What has China forced regarding coordination between Australia and the US?
   
   China lies behind the negotiations by Australian and US defence officials for much greater US military involvement in northern Australia. This will mean much more frequent visits by US warships and aircraft to the north, much more frequent joint exercising with our forces and the pre-positioning of US materiel.
7. Who will be conducting the Australia Defense Force Posture review? What were their former posts in the government?
   
   The Australian Defence Force Posture Review will be conducted by two former heads of the Defence Department, Allan Hawke and Ric Smith.
   
8. What five areas will they focus on?
   
   The inquiry will examine five elements of security: the rise of the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean rim as regions of global strategic significance; the growth of military power projection capabilities in the Asia Pacific; the need for disaster relief in the region; and "energy security and security issues.
9. What does the author suggest is the most important part of the review? Why?
   
   The offshore area from Darwin west to the Pilbara is one of the greatest resource-rich areas anywhere on the planet. And yet it abuts a part of Australia that is all but depopulated and without onshore infrastructure, including military infrastructure.
10. What does having a stronger military presence in the north of Australia do for the future? More or less conflict? Why?
    
    Making it less vulnerable will stronger military presence in the north of Australia for the future. 
11. How is China leading an arms race in the Asia Pacific?
    
    China lead an arms race in the Asia Pacific and Its expansion of their military.
12. In 2008, what did Rudd predict for military spending in the region?
    
    Rudd said Australia needed to be prepared for "huge increases in military spending" here in our own region. He said that "We must make sure we have the right mix of capabilities to deal with any contingencies that might arise in the future."
13. How did Brendan Nelson and Malcolm Turnbull get it wrong regarding China and Rudd get it right?
    The Liberals under Brendan Nelson and Malcolm Turnbull consistently got China wrong. Turnbull, as opposition leader, said of the white paper that it made "no sense for Australia to base its long-term strategic policy on the highly contentious proposition that we are on an inevitable collision course with a militarily aggressive China".