Whether it is in Australia’s interests to be in a permanent competition with China in the Pacific is arguable. Australia’s default foreign policy mindset is a function of two factors: dependence on America and fear of China. As the defence minister continues to pronounce, the US alliance is the “cornerstone” of both our defence and foreign policies. The policy failure is quite simply gobsmacking. Australia needs to understand that the Pacific nations might not want to be Australia’s partners of choice in the battle of the giants.