Let's Trade, Not Argue
An Australian strategy to secure a respectful relationship with China
By Bob Breen and Ian Langford
Trade should be the foundation of Australia’s relationship with China rather than an argument over loyalty to the United States. Under nationalist Xi Jinping, China may not maintain positive ties with Australia if it continues to align with America during President Trump's second term, leading to trade embargos and cyber-attacks. Australia is unprepared to stand up to this type of escalation.
This book presents a strategy for countering grey zone escalation by inviting trade instead of argument, supported by uncomfortable consequences for non-acceptance.
Australia’s Powerful Owl symbolises this strategy. With acute night vision and hearing, it is an apex predator that flies low and hard to defend its domain and can capture prey ten times its weight.
The book proposes an Australian middle power strategy inspired by the Powerful Owl.
It emphasises situational awareness, stealth, and the ability to detect, observe, and deter. If deterrence fails, the strategy preempts and de-escalates tensions to restore a trading relationship. If that doesn't work, it advocates for capabilities to enhance Australia's persuasiveness to trade and not argue by ten.
Let's Trade, Not Argue
Each book is sold by third-party resellers depending on the format (printed paperback, ePublication or audiobook).
Where there is more than one reseller, we encourage you to compare their prices, as each has a different business model.
We are confident that whichever reseller you choose, the quality of the product will be the same.
Purchase through the following resellers:
Available in Paperback (ISBN: 9781922603760)
"Let’s Trade Not Argue is a thoughtful, penetrating analysis of Beijing’s use of grey zone tactics to influence and ultimately subordinate Australia’s interests and values to those of China’s Marxist-Leninist party state. Authored by two well-credentialled soldier scholars, Bob Breen and Ian Langford, it’s the first serious attempt to articulate a workable and effective counter-strategy that has every prospect of success if fully implemented. Reflecting their practitioners’ backgrounds, the book is particularly strong in detailing how the recommended Response Force should be constituted and operate to deter and defeat adversaries in the grey zone. This is a must-read book for anyone interested in the defining contest for power between democratic and autocratic states."
– Alan Dupont AO.