THE DONALD DICHOTOMY: US LEADERSHIP WITHOUT THE LEADER

The uncertainty generated by President Donald Trump has made Australia cling ever tighter to the US alliance. The Trump effect hit Canberra within days of Trump taking office. The phrase "shock and awe" springs to mind - rendered in the alliance realm as "shake and appall." The first phone conversation between Trump and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was a version of "shake, rattle and roll." Canberra wants to play nice with The Donald, and say nothing publicly that is critical of the president. The template for the Australian approach was on display early when the president withdrew the US from the Trans-pacific Partnership. The Turnbull government expressed great regret at the decision but said nothing about the man who'd made it. While striving not to affront the president, Australia's language about China has become shriller. Tongue-tied by Trump, Canberra gives stronger voice to concerns about China. Turnbull has referred to the "dark view" of a "coercive China" seeking Asia domination. Stern words about China's threat to the rules-based system serve a dual purpose: speak to Beijing about the value of the system while implicitly pleading with the US not to abandon what it has built and policed - and mightily profited from.