Secret war chapter missing in the public version of Australia's defence white paper

Who wants to fight a war? 

Not surprising, there are some who may benefit from wars. 

That's what the hushed up section of the defence white paper issued during PM Kevin Rudd's leadership. This was revealed in  a new book, The Kingdom and the Quarry: China, Australia, Fear and Greed.  

The Australian military establishment, like that of the US and other countries, have an interest in lobbying for increase defence spending against a played up enemy. Force 2030 set out in the white paper was to acquire 12 big conventional submarines with missiles, revolutionary Joint Strike Fighters, air warfare destroyers and giant landing ships to prepare for possible war with Australia's main trade partner. 

Unfortunately, it is dangerous weapons, human lives and properties that warmongers are toying with. It seems much easier to create enemies than enhance friendly relations in the post-Cold War era. 

Consistent with the overall strategic policy is reliance on close friendship with US at whatever costs. However, the contagion of global economic woes and other economic priorities has put pressure on the Gillard government to cut defence spending. 

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/foreign-affairs/secret-war-with-china-uncovered/story-fn59nm2j-1226381002984

"  A new book, The Kingdom and the Quarry: China, Australia, Fear and Greed, reveals how Force 2030 set out in the white paper - to include 12 big conventional submarines with missiles, revolutionary Joint Strike Fighters, air warfare destroyers and giant landing ships - was being prepared for a possible war with Australia's main trading partner.

In the lead-up to the release of the paper in May 2009, The Australian reported extensively on the debate among Australia's security and intelligence agencies over whether China was likely to pose a threat as it increased investment in its armed forces.

The public version of the paper stopped short of declaring that war with China was what the authors feared. To avoid offending the Chinese, and to create a degree of deniability, discussion of possible future conflict relied on euphemisms such as a "major power adversary".

 Even the sanitised public version of the white paper was enough to upset the Chinese. They asked Mr Pezzullo to revise the description of the regional security environment and, in particular, the references to China's military modernisation.

The Beijing media said the white paper was a victory for the "hawks" in Australia's defence establishment and that was partly because Mr Rudd wanted to show himself to the electorate as tough on China, to show loyalty to the US and to give Australia an excuse to increase its forces."