If they did so by missiles the resultant debris would wreak havoc with anything in lower orbits, thus lasers are the more likely choice.
As for Australia, that would seem a likely target in Empire building, which an financial meltdown of the U.S. could make more attractive to the Chinese. Communism by nature is insecure, and has little or no tolerance for loyalty to anything higher than it, or independence from it, and so it needs to keep expanding its power, and it seems you are quite vulnerable.
Ought to make a people seek the Lord,
“As for Australia, that would seem a likely target in Empire building, which an financial meltdown of the U.S. could make more attractive to the Chinese.”
China is our biggest export client and has already thrown a tantrum because we didn’t permit them to buy our biggest iron ore company. There’s no doubt whatsoever they have their eye on us, and being an ally or the US is all that’s keeping them at bay.
“Ought to make a people seek the Lord,”
...when it comes to China I’d rather seek a nuclear arsenal.