A common tactic, send a disposable colonel to deliver the veiled threat, and then when the whistle is blown claim that it was the colonels opinion only. The fact that Liu is a hawk anyway just adds extra gravitas to it.
I think the question that needs to be on Gillands mind is just what sort of role does she want Australia to have in the Pacific? Obviously she will be under a lot of pressure from America and the UK to swing in their favour but neutrality could be in the best interests of Australia too. It's a very delicate game of shadow boxing, but with two players, each trying to make the closest jab at the other but without actually making contact.
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