Fear, Honour, and AUKUS in the Indo-Pacific. by Strategy Bridge

Great power competition in the Indo-Pacific has been an evolving determinant in Australian foreign policy over the past decade and many have argued that a choice needed to be made between the U.S. and China. To date, Australia has enjoyed the benefit of a hedging strategy that embraces the economic prosperity of a close trading relationship with China while maintaining a close security alliance with the U.S. This strategy has been tested recently and the tension between values and interests requires focused attention. If there was previously any doubt on where that pendulum would swing, it is now firmly answered in the announcement of AUKUS, an Australian, U.K. and U.S. security partnership.