This is directly taken from Ace of Spades but it is really all about us here in the South Pacific.

Take a look at the map below. With the waters of Kiribati and the Solomon Islands now subject to Chinese military control, China can be as dominant in the South Pacific as it wants to be.

Lieutenant General Greg Bilton, the Australian Defence Force’s Chief of Joint Operations, told reporters in Canberra on Thursday that any stationing of Chinese navy vessels in the Pacific nation would “change the calculus” for Australia’s defence forces.

Changing the calculus doesn’t change the fact that Australia’s Navy is highly distracted by enforcing the culture war.

Here is the link where more is found: Solomon Islands inks security deal with China, ignoring Australian protests.