The real threat to Australia’s sovereignty isn’t a small Chinese vessel on our doorstep, it’s the political culture that treats paranoia as policy and outrage as a strategy.
So much of Australia's approach to international politics, as with the West in general, is to begin with the premise, "what can we do about China?" This posits China as a problem, in fact THE problem. Framed like that, it also posits the West as the norm and China as an outlier. Perhaps what we ought to do is re-frame the issues and ask, how can we more effectively engage China? This suggests there is no 'problem' with China, rather 'the problem' might be how we conceptualise China. We have interests. China has interests. We have a unique type of political system. China has a unique type of political system. China is not a liberal democracy. Neither is the US. There must be give and take. If we assume politics is a zero-sum game then it will be. It doesn't have to be.
Imagine how China feels about Australian and US submarines sitting submerged off the coast of China scooping up China's comminications to flow to American intelligence.
Should be noted it was Morrison as Treasurer who approved the sale of the Port of Darwin to Lanbridge.
Chinese ships have been visiting Australian waters since well before Admiral Zheng He's four voyages through SE Asia to India and Africa from 1421.
Huge numbers of Chinese have been here since the Gold Rushes.
Currently, 5% of Australian citizens have a Chinese heritage, the largest % of Chinese in any country outside Asia.
We need to grow up fast about China, now we've been shunned by Trump's China.
Great piece! Particularly like that last line "the real threat to sovereignty isn’t China. It’s the political class that undermined it in the first place, and now hopes that no one remembers what they did." - so true across all democracies at this point of time when long-term planning is limited to the next social media frenzy.
Imagine how China would feel if we conducted reconnaissance near their shores! Oh, wait...
"Iron ore is sold to overseas interests at a low price, and most of the profits going to mining magnates such as Gina Rinehart, Andrew Forrest or multinational entities, with little in royalties returned to the Commonwealth of Australia."
We then buy it back as rails so we can export more, with tax breaks for the miners.
So much of Australia's approach to international politics, as with the West in general, is to begin with the premise, "what can we do about China?" This posits China as a problem, in fact THE problem. Framed like that, it also posits the West as the norm and China as an outlier. Perhaps what we ought to do is re-frame the issues and ask, how can we more effectively engage China? This suggests there is no 'problem' with China, rather 'the problem' might be how we conceptualise China. We have interests. China has interests. We have a unique type of political system. China has a unique type of political system. China is not a liberal democracy. Neither is the US. There must be give and take. If we assume politics is a zero-sum game then it will be. It doesn't have to be.
Imagine how China feels about Australian and US submarines sitting submerged off the coast of China scooping up China's comminications to flow to American intelligence.
Should be noted it was Morrison as Treasurer who approved the sale of the Port of Darwin to Lanbridge.
Chinese ships have been visiting Australian waters since well before Admiral Zheng He's four voyages through SE Asia to India and Africa from 1421.
Huge numbers of Chinese have been here since the Gold Rushes.
Currently, 5% of Australian citizens have a Chinese heritage, the largest % of Chinese in any country outside Asia.
We need to grow up fast about China, now we've been shunned by Trump's China.
Great piece! Particularly like that last line "the real threat to sovereignty isn’t China. It’s the political class that undermined it in the first place, and now hopes that no one remembers what they did." - so true across all democracies at this point of time when long-term planning is limited to the next social media frenzy.
Imagine how China would feel if we conducted reconnaissance near their shores! Oh, wait...
"Iron ore is sold to overseas interests at a low price, and most of the profits going to mining magnates such as Gina Rinehart, Andrew Forrest or multinational entities, with little in royalties returned to the Commonwealth of Australia."
We then buy it back as rails so we can export more, with tax breaks for the miners.
People need to stop confusing the Coalition's good TO business with good AT business.