China’s expanding military strength poses serious questions for the United States, Australia, and their allies. The increasing assertiveness in the region by China necessitates serious preparation on the part of Washington and Canberra in the advent of Chinese coercive action. This paper lays out three hypothetical scenarios of Chinese aggression and proposes ways the U.S. and Australia can strengthen their collective response.

Carnegie’s Ashley Townshend and Evan A. Feigenbaum will join Stacie Pettyjohn and William C. Greenwalt to discuss AUKUS developments and the challenges and opportunities of U.S.-Australia alliance reform.