In this inaugural Melbourne Asia Policy Paper, Professor Paul Dibb of Australian National University (ANU) examines the pros and cons of Australia's close alliance with the United States and its impact on our Asian relations. The Melbourne Asia Policy Papers aim to strengthen Australia's engagement in Asia through the publication and dissemination of a series of non-partisan policy option papers. Four times a year, leading international scholars are invited to produce a concise, 10-page policy paper which examines different aspects of Australia's relations with the Asia Pacific region.