Comments by "Evan" (@MrEvanfriend) on "Could Chinese navy and air force defeat Australia's?" video.

The last time a major East Asian power threatened Australia, they got as far as an island called Guadalcanal. Then American Marines landed there, and let's just say that it turned out poorly for that East Asian power. The fact is, Australia could count on American aid in such a scenario. They know this, which is why they can afford to have a relatively small military. The Chinese know it too. Australia is the only country - including the UK and Canada - that has fought alongside the US in every war since 1914. That wouldn't be forgotten.
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No, we aren't.
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@mydixienormus9186 Whatever you think of Trump, he's a whole hell of a lot better than Xi.
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@unknownname6519 But the point is that Australia's strategic posture assumes American aid. If it didn't, the Aussies would spend more on their military. They've fought alongside the US in every war since 1914. America remembers that.
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There's also the issue of competence. The Australian Army is a very competent, well trained, and professional force. I've never seen their Navy or Air Force, but I would assume they're much the same. The PLA isn't. I'd take a Digger over some Chinese conscript any day. Also, this scenario ignored the US, which isn't realistic. Australia's defensive posture counts on American aid - and they'd get it, too. The US doesn't appreciate our allies being bullied, and Australia is the only country on earth to have fought alongside us in every war since 1914. The military alliance between the US and Australia is very close - my opinions of the Australian Army is from having met some of them when they were training at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center at Twentynine Palms, California, where I was stationed. Were it not for the US, Australia's military would certainly be much larger.
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@willmitchell2450 I'd suggest you look more closely into that. If you take the battle of Chosin Reservoir, yes, a quick look will tell you that the Chinese caused an American retreat. A closer look will tell you that the First Marine Division was opposed by eight Chinese divisions, and executed a fighting retreat while inflicting catastrophic casualties on the Chinese force so as to essentially blunt their effectiveness and remove their ability to wage further war.
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China can't take Taiwan for more or less the same reason they can't take Australia (though Australia does offer other challenges as well): mutual defense pacts with the United States. The Chinese aren't stupid, they understand that picking a war with the US is a very bad idea.
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Australia can afford to have a small military because they can count on American assistance. The Chinese and everyone else knows that picking a fight with Australia amounts to picking a fight with the United States. And they know that such a move is suicidal.
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@xeji4348 Yeah, it will cost you a lot more than money. People who pick wars with the US soon learn that their life expectancies immediately shorten. We have a unique ability to project overwhelming force anywhere on the planet.
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