Has Australia started an arms race with China? It’s a question that is sometimes lobbed at Australia’s defence community.

Consider the facts, on the surface. Australia entered a pact with the United States and the United Kingdom, two years ago, that will give Australia its first nuclear-powered submarines.

And now we’re reading about how China is readying its naval fleet to welcome not just nuclear-powered submarines, but nuclear armed submarines.

But, says International and Political editor Peter Hartcher, to read the facts in this way is to completely misunderstand reality. Today, Peter joins Sam to discuss how these new submarines alter the global balance of power. And why most of us haven’t heard about them, until now.