In this month's Defence Strategic Update, Scott Morrison highlighted the need to “shape Australia’s strategic environment”. This is ambitious – and has its own resource implications.

It requires, as the update puts it, “improving our awareness of what’s happening in the region” – no straight-forward matter. Recent regional commentary, including experts who commented in a recent Council for Security Co-operation-Asialink survey, remind us how much must be factored in as Australia negotiates the struggle between the US and China. It also warns of the need for an adequate knowledge base.