Avoid patriotism and point-scoring

To hear DefenceMinister Peter Dutton talk, one could be forgiven for thinking we are about to plunge into war just as we begin to see an end to our Covid-19 confinement. ‘‘The only way you can preserve peace is to prepare for war, and be strong as a country. Not to cower, not to be on bended knee and be weak,’’ he said on Anzac Day. It is clear that Dutton wants us to see this dichotomy between strength and weakness as one that separates the Coalition from Labor.

There is nothing wrong with national security issues being debated in a campaign, but there is a need for care because incendiary remarks can be counterproductive to national security.

We have entered an erawhen the global balance of power is in flux. The question is whether we can debate these problems without descending into misty-eyed patriotism or partisan point-scoring.

Prime Minister Morrison says he has been assured by his Solomons counterpart, Manasseh Sogavare, that there will be no Chinese military base in the islands. Whether that promise holdswe will need more than just talk of strength and historical analogies to keep us secure. We will need allies in the region and the world that are on the same page as us and clarity onwhat our political leaders plan to do, in war and peace. The bluster of the past week is no substitute.