Australia is not a high roller internationally, except by virtue of its delicate position as one of China’s biggest trading partners and one of the US’ closest allies. This means Canberra is treading warily between the two in the midst of the storm clouds gathering over South China Sea islands, where China is expanding its territorial control and strategic influence and the US is now seriously seeking to challenge it. However, no matter how much Canberra might try to appear even-handed, it simply cannot because its strategic priorities by virtue of its US alliance leave no scope for any ambiguity.




