Troubled waters: China’s blue water PLA-N

This means having the wherewithal to influence the political and military choices of an adversary and dissuading her from taking a course of action, by making her leaders understand that either the cost of that course is too great or is of no use.

Deterrence is based upon credibility: the ability to prevent an attack on us, and our capacity to respond decisively to any attack. Ideally, our reputation to respond must precede us and our capacity to respond must be understood to be so powerful as to discourage an enemy even contemplating an attack on us.

While the White Paper is long on canvassing potential sources of future concern to Australia’s peaceful enjoyment of life and liberty, the Paper is very short on detailing a credible deterrence capacity.

And that’s a pity.