High on the Albanese's agenda in his honeymoon period is to 'repair the relationship with China' (!)

Decoupling from China is the only way to prepare for a possible war. How's it gonna play out if Aus is dependent on China for its daily consumer goods, as well as its export dollars - when all that's switched off? What's the plan?

Unless you have no intention of going to war.

AFR: Mr Albanese said the hour-long discussion between Defence Minister Richard Marles and his Chinese counterpart Wei Fenghe, on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore was to be welcomed, but the government was not getting carried away.

I wonder what happy events the Defence Ministers discussed to produce this detente? Did China promise to free HK, Tibet, not invade Taiwan?

Albo: It is always a good thing that people have dialogue and have discussion. And it’s been something that’s been missing in the last few years, but there needs to be concrete steps taking forward.

Missing because: Aus asked politely, once, for an independent investigation into Covid. Whereupon China slapped bans on all exports - except for iron ore and coal - which they feverishly stocked-piled.

Albo: It is China that has changed the nature of the relationship. They are our major trading partner. So, it is important for Australia’s economy and for jobs here that we have a relationship going forward.

Plain English: money

But China needs to remove the sanctions that they have put in place. There’s no reason for them to be there.

Actually they don't. They've proved that. But Aus hasn't proved it couldn't survive five minutes without China's produce. For all the sanctions China put on, Aus didn't sanction any Chinese products.

After the Defense Ministers' meeting, a China spokesperson said:

We hope the Australian side will work with China in the spirit of mutual respect and seek common ground while shelving differences to promote sound and steady development of the China-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership.
A sound and stable China-Australia relation suits the fundamental interests and common aspirations of people of both countries.

Unless you count Freedom as a fundamental interest/aspiration. Unfortunately the Aus govt doesn't.