Around half (48%) of Australians surveyed in a new poll believe the AUKUS deal will help keep Australia safe from Chinese military threats. The annual survey from the Australia-China Relations Institute (ACRI) at the University of Technology Sydney provides insights into how Australians approach “Australia’s toughest foreign policy challenge”: the Australia-China relationship.
So, why do so many Australians believe that the eye-wateringly high level of defence expenditure is justified, despite ongoing issues about the cost of living crisis?
Naturally, some may say this is because — as our politicians keep telling us — “China has changed”. Indeed, China has changed.
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