16 March 2020 - The United States has declared a national emergency as a result of the spread of COVID-19. But it really needs to call a second emergency - its dependence on China for many essential medicines.

In the now rapidly disappearing era of unrestrained globalism the US found it cheaper to access vital medicines from China and it closed many of its manufacturing facilities. And so, while the US was building up its defence with an eye on China it has become dependent on China for many of the medicines both its troops and the general population need, especially in wartime.

Australia in trying to isolate itself from the COVID-19 pandemic has discovered that there are advantages of being an island. But, as previous generations of Australians discovered, as an island nation an essential part of your defence is having a base of self-reliance.

Read The Australian article