The Lowy Institute's Sam Roggeveen joins Jonathan to discuss the rise of Chinese military power, its implications for American power, the prospects of great power conflict in the Asia Pacific, scenarios regarding Taiwan, the American response to China's rise and the defence strategy and military configuration Australia should be pursuing in light of changed strategic circumstances in the region. Sam Roggeveen is Director of the Lowy Institute's International Security Program. He specialises in China's military, American defence and foreign policy, Australian defence and foreign policy, and military technology. He has worked at Australian intelligence agencies the Office of National Assessments and the Defence Intelligence Agency, and also Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs, where he worked on arms control.  The Political Animals is hosted by Jonathan Cole, an academic, writer, speaker and translator who specialises in political theology: the intersetion of religion and politics. Previously, he worked as a Senior Terrorism Analyst at Australian intelligence agency The Office of National Assessments. You can follow Jonathan and the show on Twitter and Facebook.