Aussie to France: Get f**k, mate!

[Eternal]

[John Galt]

china is rising but i think it's a swift fast rise that will have a similar fall, and that is simply because of demographics. they are suddenly coming around to the realization that their demographics are completely f**k. one child policy has changed to 3, but it's too little, too late. their population contraction will continue, and since they are racist and don't like immigrants and non-Han (there are about 1,400 total naturalized chinese citizens) they have painted themselves into a corner.

meanwhile I think the US' star is being temporarily and only partially eclipsed by the meteoric rise of china, soon to be back bright in the sky once again as america will not suffer from the population declines like china. america and canada are poised together to be the ones maintaining population over the next 100 years while the global population contracts, and that's thanks to our immigration policies which are restrictive but not as restrictive as most other places. europe crashed and burned a long time ago. africa is on the rise but its population, as it moves to cities, will level out faster than anticipated by many (as urbanization + women's education == declining birth rates), and people will move to america because that's what people do.

the most dangerous phase with china is the next 20 years as the population starts its terminal decline to HALF over the next 50 years and china aggressively tries to play the hand it has before the crunch comes. sure, we can welcome anyone on board to contain them. should we include a bunch of babies who like to coddle dictators in that mix? i say no, but maybe europe can grow up. I hope so, they've been in training diapers for 80 years now you think they could wipe themselves by now

[John Galt]

[Saz]

Interesting news in the region: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reciproca ... _Agreement

Japan and Aussie just signed a reciprocal access agreement, basically making it very easy for each country to deploy military forces in the other. Should really improve joint training and defense initiatives, which otherwise run into a lot of bureaucratic and legal issues. Japan's only other similar agreement is with the USA, so its kind of a big deal. In particular it basically makes it matter of routine for Aussie forces to patrol and work in Japanese waters, key given the location of some Japanese islands. You can again see the lines forming, Aussie/Japan/UK/US are taking the steps.

What we really need is India. India onside and pulling in the same direction would be an absolute and complete game changer, basically on the level of the Sino-Soviet split in the cold war. Seriously US officials should be on their hands in knees in Dheli giving the Indians whatever they want to get them onside on this issue. Really hope Xi is dumb enough to try some stunt in the mountains again, thats about the only think that seriously seems to shift Indian viewpoints (Indians are as stubborn and poor allies as the french).

India and Russia are strong partners though. You can see the lines forming but this one cuts right across them so should be handled very carefully.

[Kane]

[Kane]

Also:

lol @ China's ban on Australia coal

https://www.news.com.au/finance/markets ... 754fec16cc

[Kane]

[Kane]

Pretty interesting info on the Solomon Islands as well...given their proximity to Australia:

https://www.news.com.au/world/pacific/c ... e177c7feb5

Oh...and China wasn't happy about the RAA:

https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/le ... cacdaf7171

[John Galt]

Solomons have long been important buffer from east-asian aggression versus Australia. many of our boys died around what is now the capital of the Solomons; Henderson field is now the airport for the capital itself. so China knows its importance. They've been busy trying to get people indebted to them for a long time, and this was part of that. Solomons picked the wrong horse in cutting off relations with Taiwan, the people know it, and that's why they have caused problems. so China sends advisors to help quell unrest. best thing they can do is just recognize Taiwan again

[Kane]

The leader won't though. China will do what they do best and corrupt and/or pressure him to bow to their whims. Seems like he's already that kind of guy so it's their win.

It is a bit heartening to see these vassal states seemingly failing without support. Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Solomon Islands, what's next? Maybe....Belarus? That would shake the Kremlin to its core.