Sounds like down-playing - which a form of appeasing. Very common in Aus. Monied-interest groups have massive reasons to keep their heads (& everyone else's) firmly in the sand - just keep the money flowing.

It's as plain as day that China is prepping. They've been prepping for decades with the United Front infiltrating academia, globalist bodies, govts, and corporations - now it's hardware and supply-chain prepping.

If i'm China, i'm looking at the vulnerable state of the west, who don't seem to be prepping at all in terms of supply-chain & manufacturing, and thinking this is too big an advantage to pass over.