AUSTRALIA'S NEW GOVERNMENT: CLIMATE, CHINA AND AUKUS

Australia has changed government and the political war over climate change draws to a close after raging for 15 years. The new Labor government led by Anthony Albanese promises continuity on foreign and defense policy, delivered with a different tone. In the government's first 100 days, it chipped some ice from the frosty relationship with China. Ending a Beijing ban on meetings with Australian ministers that was in its third year, Chinese ministers had face-to-face talks with Australia's foreign minister and defense minister. Albanese's observation that dealing with China will continue to be difficult was demonstrated by a diplomatic duel in the South Pacific, as Canberra pushed back at Beijing's ambition for a greater security role in islands. Two major defense announcements are due in the first months of 2023: the plan for an Australian nuclear submarine, based on the AUKUS agreement with the US and UK, plus a re-set of Australia's military and strategic posture because of the toughest security environment in decades. Labor says the alliance with the US should go "beyond interoperability to interchangeability" so the two militaries can "operate seamlessly together at speed."