Let's trust in the US but aim for greater self-reliance in our region

Abstract

All this points to the need for Australia to strengthen its defence self-reliance and to place more emphasis on its own region of primary strategic concern in Asia, where strategic challenges to our vital national interests will become more likely.With regard to US alliances, I agree with those who advise that we should not overreact to Trump statements that NATO is obsolete and that Japan should acquire nuclear weapons.Australia's former ambassador to the US, Japan, Indonesia and India -- who notes that differing with the Americans on security, particularly with the Trump administration, may require political courage of an order to which Australians are unaccustomed. On the question of China, Trump seems to be heading down the path of confrontation, ranging from challenging the one-China policy through to suggesting that America might deny China access to its militarised fortifications in the South China Sea.