A lengthy article in China’s Observer.com by Chen Feng¸a columnist for the magazine, goes through the tortuous history of Australia’s attempt to develop a submarine force. The article also reflects some of the thinking going on in Chinese circles with regard to the military situation created by the new AUKUS security alliance.
Chen touches upon the flaws in a “Fortress Australia” in a possible conflict situation. Australia is an island, he states, and therefore they have to protect a very long coastline. By and large, it is no longer an industrial nation. Its major products are raw materials and agricultural products. Since World War II it has lost a lot of its industrial potential, and has become a largely service economy. It is dependent on imports for most of its industrial products. Presently, their main lines of maritime communication go through China, but in a time of conflict this would no longer be possible. Its major strategic lines of communication would then either go to Great Britain or to the U.S. and these lines are very long and must also be defended.
