The Albanese government has been on an unprecedented campaign of diplomatic activism in the Pacific Islands – all to keep China’s military at a distance.

At the same time, AUKUS is remaking our defence strategy, with eight nuclear-powered submarines, expanded facilities for US forces, and plans for a new east-coast submarine base.

For some watching on, those two approaches are at odds – the diplomacy aims to prevent a Chinese foothold, while AUKUS gives them the exact reason why they need one.

Today, the director of the International Security Program at the Lowy Institute, Sam Roggeveen, on the contradiction at the heart of Australia’s Pacific policy – and whether there’s a safer way to defend our region.

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