India, Oct. 19 -- Australia's approach to China's ongoing destruction of economies, societies and democracies in places like Solomon Islands looks a lot like the scene in the TV show, "Yes, Prime Minister", in which the civil servants explain the "Standard Foreign Office response in a time of crisis".

say nothing is going to happen.

Stage Two: say something may be about to happen, but we should do nothing about it.

Stage Three: say that maybe we should do something about it, but there's nothing we *can* do.

Stage Four: say maybe there was something we could have done, but it's too late now.

Australia's staged approach was on full display in 2019 when Solomons and Kiribati switched from Taiwan to China. First some Australians were tel...