We are all so captured by US culture and media I don't think any of us can really think clearly about the state of our alliance and China. We need a diversity of opinions on this so we can have real conversations and start to form our own opinions. The US alliance serves a useful purpose but it has costs as well. It is ok to disagree. We are a sovereign nation with our own interests which may not be the same as US interests. It is very hard to see how conflict with China benefits Australia. It isn't about which foreign power has the most domestic prisoners, the most controlled media, the worst leader, the most similar political system. It is about us and only us.