Thread by @ASPI_org

Session 1 of #ASPIConference2021 will look at the 'Changing strategic environment' with former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for China Chad Sbragia, @KoriSchake, Peter Jennings & @michael_ASPI

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Chad Sbragia says that the strategic competition between 🇺🇸 & 🇨🇳 is forcing the regional leaders in the Indo-Pacific to make a choice between Beijing & Washington #ASPIConference2021

Reflecting on China’s strategic aims, Sbragia says ‘The greatest risk isn't China’s raw power but the degree in which Beijing succeeds in drawing others to its vision. We have to do better at understanding the aims and logic of China’s approach’ #ASPIConference2021

Discussing how 🇦🇺 and the 🇺🇸 may collaborate in the future, Chad Sbragia thinks both countries should establish a better vision of how the strategic order may look in the future and what path should we take to get there #ASPIConference2021

In her opening remarks at #ASPIConference2021, @KoriSchake complemented how Australia has been resilient in addressing its national security through a series of strategic policies... 'strengthening and shoring up Pacific Island nations who would be easy prey to China'

@KoriSchake says that as we have understood, the Chinese Government doesn't want a liberal international order; 🇦🇺 should recognise that this is a threat to middle and small powers, and shaping order in a positive way is then even more important #ASPIConference2021

@KoriSchake worries that countries are talking themselves into believing that China is a better strategist than they are - '🇦🇺's strength is bringing free consensual societies together, that is a superpower'

Analysing the changes in 🇦🇺's strategic environment, Peter Jennings says ‘we built the foundation of 🇦🇺 defence policy around the thought that although we may be a small force we would maintain a qualitative edge in our military capabilities. This is now completely untrue’

Peter Jennings says that in the past, the North Pacific Island Nations would look to Australia & to New Zealand as the security providers for those countries… it wasn’t until a few years ago that these concepts have now changed #ASPIConference2021

Q: In analysing the economic dependence that countries like the 🇺🇸 & 🇦🇺 have with 🇨🇳, @michael_ASPI asks 'how can the Biden administration approach this?'

A: @KoriSchake thinks the Biden administration is realising that the USA can’t maintain a technology and military edge, but that we can create secure supply chains and there are a lot of ways to do that.

Peter Jennings says that the trilateral relationship (🇺🇸🇦🇺🇯🇵) will really become the engine of the QUAD.
For 🇦🇺 to mitigate the challenges we face we need to strengthen our alliance with the QUAD; this will help address challenges in the Indo-Pacific region #ASPIConference2021

That marks the end of Session 1⃣ of our #ASPIConference2021!

@michael_ASPI was joined by Peter Jennings, @KoriSchake & Chad Sbragia as they discussed 🇦🇺's changing strategic environment, national security & potential flash points