By David Fawcett*
Oft-repeated, because it is true, Australia faces the most complex strategic circumstances since World War II. Instability and near-term risk of major armed conflict in our region are real. The circumnavigation of Australia by Chinese navy warships earlier this year was a wake-up call for many. The range and accuracy of guided weapons, coupled with the launch capacity of modern warships, mean that Australia’s geographic isolation no longer affords the protection that some had taken for granted in the past. (From: The Strategist. The Australian Strategic Policy Institute.)
