To help balance China, leading Asian countries should have a frank discussion about Washington’s role in Asia and convey their views plainly to the US.
America is using flimsy means to confront the strongest adversary it has ever faced, and needs to ask itself if it is willing to fight a hot war to maintain its position in Asia.
After a 2017 where Australia tried prodding the US into doing more to counter China in the Asia-Pacific – to Beijing’s ire – Canberra is now attempting to talk things down. Australia faces some hard questions if it wants to build a sustainable relationship with the new China.