Part 7/13:
The Incoherent Economic and Defense Strategy
This inconsistency reveals a government struggling to reconcile its geopolitical priorities. The government’s narrative suggests cooperation where possible and disagreement where necessary, but critics argue this is a euphemism for inconsistent policy driven more by optics than strategy.
For example, Australia is importing critical components like Chinese solar panels for its defense manufacturing—a glaring contradiction when those panels could be cut off if hostilities erupt. This reliance on Chinese goods undermines Australia’s claims to secure sovereignty, especially when the same government urges the development of a sovereign defense capability.