Is a war with China inevitable? Here’s what you think
Welcome back to YourOur Friday dive into the letters and comments on what you’ve decided on for the week’s topic.
They bang on the keyboards to let us know what you think herald‘s Red Alert series and whether war with China is inevitable in the next three years.
Illustration: John ShakespeareCredit:
Give peace a chance
Are we prepared for a full-scale conflict with China? Our panel of national security experts said no. Most readers had other ideas.
Margaret Johnston, Paddington Talking about how long before we go to war with China is way too narrow. Peace must never be thrown into the dustbin of history.
Simon says Anyone who thinks that Australia’s arms race with China is feasible and achievable is mistaken.
Bella’s mother There are too many arms manufacturers and warmongers in this world and they are willing to make cannon fodder out of innocent people.
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Claude Mostowik, Pax Christi Australia We must downplay the possibility of conflict and emphasize the need for cooperation and understanding as the path to peace and stability.
Barry Riley, Woy Woy Here’s a thought; How about every country changing the title of defense minister to peace minister?
Niall O’Toole, Jamberoo Given how relatively small our population is, wouldn’t it be ironic if China decided to classify us as Terra Nullius and just come in here?
Bill Widerberg, Dover Heights The panel of experts is optimistic. A war with China is more likely in the next two years. Moreover, any history student would have known for some time that war is inevitable. We must be on our way immediately.
Greg Thomas, Annandale The idea that Australia should prepare for war with China is absurd. Talk about the mouse that roared.
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Anne Shay, Ballina The headlines in herald are frightening! Why are we following the US in their provocation of China? The US is pushing for another mishap.
Mark Porter, New Lambton Are we ready for a war with China? Only the warmongers would be crazy enough to consider such a question. What we must do to avoid such a war is the only reasonable question.
James Mahoney, McKellar (ACT) Of course we are not ready for war. Once we stick our pinky toe in a hot stoush, a push of a button in China will end it for us.
Geoff Teys, Chippendale A positive aspect is the possible war with China in the near future. It may coincide with the opening of the War Memorial’s $500 million expansion.
Andrew Brown, Bowling Alley Point Scaremongering about a war with China is a new distraction. There is really only one true threat facing our nation, and it is one shared by all nations: climate change.
John Ireland, Thirroul Could someone please clarify when the war with China will start. I need to update my term deposits.
Illustration: John ShakespeareCredit:
Where’s the plan B?
The defense panel warned readers that within 72 hours of a conflict erupting, Chinese missiles and cyberattacks would hit Australia. This is what you had to say:
Tim Schroeder, Gordon Military pundits are always beating the drums of the impending war as it fills the coffers, gives them more toys and jobs for life.
Greg McCarry, Epping Are our treaty arrangements with America such that we must participate, if requested, in any war they deem to be in its national interest, without the opportunity to form our own independent opinions as to its merits?
ken butler, Mountain Cola What about Australia’s Plan B? Plan B involves Australia “coming of age”, being and acting as a small but strong, independent and neutral nation, staying away from conflicts that do not concern us and earning the respect of all nations (especially China).
Doug Hewitt, Hamilton Not since the time of Menzies have we seen such a crazed attempt to stir up fear and anticipation of invasion from the North.
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Richard Broinowski, Paddington Why paint such a desperate picture of an imminent apocalypse as if it were a foregone conclusion when vigorous regional diplomacy could still work?
Jeannette Tsoulos, West Pymble China doesn’t provoke Australia or the US the way we provoke them. A world war would now have an outcome – the end of mankind.
Roger Hallett, Toowoomba (Qld) Why would China want to start a war with Australia? What would it gain that cannot be bought now – at far less cost than starting a world war that would destroy its own economy?
Don Leayr, Albury I think it’s time for all world leaders to sit down and be made to watch so many war movies and videos until they realize the futility of war and realize that there are no winners – only losers.
John Flint, St Leonards If the enemy cuts off all electronic communications, I’ll curl up in bed and read a book.
Credit:Figure: Cathy Wilcox
A self-fulfilling prophecy?
The purpose of the Red Alert series was to help readers identify the threat of war, discuss our preparedness, and suggest constructive ways to deal with any eventuality. The editors said so herald did not apologize for mentioning China. Letter writers replied:
Elly Haynes, Belgravia Why don’t we just publish a manual about our security deficits and strategies how China could invade us and send it to China. Save yourself all this speculation.
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Judy Hungerford, North curl curl It’s time to realize that just as everything looks like a nail to any hammer, so everything looks like a war to any military expert.
Malcolm France, Haberfield I wrote two letters to you herald to cover alternative outcomes of predictions in the Red Alert series. I will only submit one of these and will not hit submit until March 10, 2026.
stewart copper, Maroubra My goodness, what’s all this war talk about? Didn’t the authors hear about self-fulfilling prophecies?
Brian Martin, West Wollongong Rather than spending billions to resist feared Chinese occupation of Australian mines and beaches, another option is to sell them mineral resources and invite Chinese students and tourists to spend their money here. No submarines required.
Josie McSkimming, Coogee Day three of the series and we have nukes and national service. What do we get on the fourth day? Instructions on how to build a bomb shelter for the home?
Sally Shepard, Nelson Bay I don’t think we need conscription if there’s a nuclear war.
Graeme Gibson, Caringbah If we are preparing for a possible war, how about putting food etc. in the closet for two weeks. We’re a great country, but so terribly slow to absorb. By now I would have expected a release from the Department of Defense on Conflict Preparedness. We do for floods and bushfires.
Steve Johnson, East Gardens I was relieved to read that national service conscripts will not be limited to young people and I would love to see the five Red Alert panelists march into Holsworthy Military Barracks and lead by example. I’ll be right behind them as the sixth volunteer; I still know Morse code from my service in the 1960’s and we’ve fought many wars in the decades since. We will definitely win one of them one day (dit dit dit, dah dah dah, dit dit dit).
- You can join the discussion on smh.com.au in the comments section of each article and in letters to the editor in print and online. I’ll see you next Friday. Your, Pat Stringa, Letter Editor
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/is-war-with-china-inevitable-here-s-what-you-think-20230307-p5cq0w.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_national_nsw Is a war with China inevitable? Here’s what you think
