Hugh White, once again, finds himself at the centre of a vigorous foreign policy debate.

Nine years ago, his Quarterly Essay  Power Shift and subsequent book The China Choice sparked a debate that continues to this day about how the world should adjust to China's rise. The idea Australia might have to choose between its largest trading partner and most important security ally – amid growing rivalry between China and the US – reframed strategic thinking, provoking both high praise and stinging criticism for White.