China | PUNT ROAD END | Richmond Tigers Forum
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China

I'm not sure we can rely on the US to defend us these days, especially when our own leaders are acting belligerently.

All China has to say to the US is "we'll nuke your cities if you dare to interfere", and the US will meekly back down, slap some wet-lettuce-leaf-sanctions on China and perhaps provide a few surface to air missile to help Aussies defend their homeland. Russian and Ukraine is the case in point.
Certainly is a concern.

Howard invoked the ANZUS treaty after September 11, so hopefully the US would reciprocate.
Not sure that someone like Trump would though if he were to become President again.
 
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Australia has US Military installations in Aus. The US will defend their bases/installations.
 
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Australia has US Military installations in Aus. The US will defend their bases/installations.

Been years since I went to Pine Gap, maybe we'll all have to go there as the US defends its assets here and little else. Hopefully they won't arrest me this time!

DS
 
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"US military experts say a war over Taiwan is desirable, because Asia’s growth to become world’s economic heartland has become unstoppable."
 
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"US military experts say a war over Taiwan is desirable, because Asia’s growth to become world’s economic heartland has become unstoppable."
Yay - another war brought to you and sponsored by the USA.
 
It's beyond a 'dissapointment' as described by te Government It's a National Security threat.
How the *smile* did a Liberal Government that spruiks about security of Australia allow the Chinese, a foreign powerhouse to gain such a strong foothold on our doorstep?
Should be the question on the front page of every National paper.
Unprecedented.
In fairness, both the LNP and ALP have been pouring money and support into the Solomon Is and other Pacific nations for a long time. China comes in with their bags of money, Swiss bank accounts and overseas education for the PM and his children. The PM just gave $40K to each member of parliament who supported him during a no-confidence vote last year, supplied from a Chinese "constituency fund".

Is that what Australia should be doing?
 
In fairness, both the LNP and ALP have been pouring money and support into the Solomon Is and other Pacific nations for a long time. China comes in with their bags of money, Swiss bank accounts and overseas education for the PM and his children. The PM just gave $40K to each member of parliament who supported him during a no-confidence vote last year, supplied from a Chinese "constituency fund".
Do we know any of what you just wrote is factually true?
 

"US military experts say a war over Taiwan is desirable, because Asia’s growth to become world’s economic heartland has become unstoppable."

Maneuvering a rival country into a military exchange where they get all the blame, where have I heard that before?

Interesting to note both authors are from Hong Kong.

But, if they are wanting Australia to be part of this they will have to wait maybe 20 years so we can get our new subs!

DS
 
Maneuvering a rival country into a military exchange where they get all the blame, where have I heard that before?

Interesting to note both authors are from Hong Kong.

But, if they are wanting Australia to be part of this they will have to wait maybe 20 years so we can get our new subs!

DS

Yeah, I mean the last thing anyone in Asia wants is a military confrontation between the US and China. The authors also claim suppression of the democracy and the press in HK is overblown, which is frankly ridiculous for residents of HK to claim. The most bizarre thing is the implied claim that the US can stop the course of economic history in terms of the rise of Asia by provoking a conflict between China/Taiwan/US etc.. That's mindblowing dumb.

Dutton and ScoMo stoking anti-China paranoia (while sticking by Gladys Liu on the other hand) is simple, classic reds under the bed - in bed with Labor - scare mongering for the election. An external enemy is always a useful asset to an incumbent government who can't come up with much else.
 
Now that's a truly weird take. Who is that bloke?

Phill Hynes​

Phill Hynes is a regional risk analyst based in Hong Kong specialising in international geopolitics.

Nury Vittachi​

Nury Vittachi is the editor of Fridayeveryday.com, a new media and events group based in Hong Kong. He wrote the comedy-crime novel series The Feng Shui Detective as well as non-fiction works and novels for children.

About​

John Menadue

John Menadue has had a senior professional career in the media, public service and airlines.
He was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 1985 for public service. In 1997, he received the Japanese Imperial Award, The Grand Cordon of the Order of the Sacred Treasure (Kun-itto Zuiho-sho), the highest honour awarded to foreigners who are not head of state or head of government. The award was for services to the Australia-Japan relationship, particularly the establishment of the working holiday program between the two countries. In 2003 he was awarded the Centenary Medal ‘for service to Australian society through public service leadership’.
In 2009, he received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Adelaide in recognition of his significant and lifelong contribution to Australian society as a Public Servant, Diplomat, Critical Thinker, Board Director, Advisor and Public Commentator.
John Menadue was born in South Australia in 1935. He's 87!!!!! He graduated from the University of Adelaide in 1956 as a Bachelor of Economics.
From 1960 to 1967 he was Private Secretary to Gough Whitlam, Leader of the Opposition. He then moved into the private sector for seven years as General Manager, News Limited, Sydney, publisher of ‘The Australian’.
John Menadue was head of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet from 1974 to 1976 and closely involved in the dismissal events of November 11, 1975 He worked for Prime Ministers Gough Whitlam and Malcolm Fraser.
From 1977-1980 he was Australian Ambassador to Japan.
He returned to Australia in 1980 to take up the position of Head, Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs where he was active with Malcolm Fraser and Ian Macphee in the settlement of large numbers of Indo Chinese refugees in Australia.
He was appointed Head of the Department of Trade in December 1983.
From 1986-1989 he was Chief Executive Officer of Qantas.
Later he was a Director of Telstra from December 1994 to October 1996 and Chairman of the Australia Japan Foundation from 1991 to 1998.
He chaired the NSW Health Council which reported to the NSW Minister for Health in March 2000 on changes to health services in NSW. He also chaired the SA Generational Health Review which reported to the SA Minister for Human Services in May 2003.
He chaired fundraising and volunteered for many years at the Matthew Hostel for homeless men.
As a Patron of the Asylum Seekers’ Centre in Sydney, he is active in refugee advocacy.
He launched his influential public policy journal Pearls and Irritations at johnmenadue.com in January 2013. There are now over 15,000 subscribers.
 
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Yeah, I mean the last thing anyone in Asia wants is a military confrontation between the US and China. The authors also claim suppression of the democracy and the press in HK is overblown, which is frankly ridiculous for residents of HK to claim. The most bizarre thing is the implied claim that the US can stop the course of economic history in terms of the rise of Asia by provoking a conflict between China/Taiwan/US etc.. That's mindblowing dumb.

Dutton and ScoMo stoking anti-China paranoia (while sticking by Gladys Liu on the other hand) is simple, classic reds under the bed - in bed with Labor - scare mongering for the election. An external enemy is always a useful asset to an incumbent government who can't come up with much else.

Yeah, but declining imperial powers do some pretty strange things.

DS
 

Phill Hynes​

Phill Hynes is a regional risk analyst based in Hong Kong specialising in international geopolitics.

Nury Vittachi​

Nury Vittachi is the editor of Fridayeveryday.com, a new media and events group based in Hong Kong. He wrote the comedy-crime novel series The Feng Shui Detective as well as non-fiction works and novels for children.

About​

John Menadue

John Menadue has had a senior professional career in the media, public service and airlines.
He was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 1985 for public service. In 1997, he received the Japanese Imperial Award, The Grand Cordon of the Order of the Sacred Treasure (Kun-itto Zuiho-sho), the highest honour awarded to foreigners who are not head of state or head of government. The award was for services to the Australia-Japan relationship, particularly the establishment of the working holiday program between the two countries. In 2003 he was awarded the Centenary Medal ‘for service to Australian society through public service leadership’.
In 2009, he received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Adelaide in recognition of his significant and lifelong contribution to Australian society as a Public Servant, Diplomat, Critical Thinker, Board Director, Advisor and Public Commentator.
John Menadue was born in South Australia in 1935. He's 87!!!!! He graduated from the University of Adelaide in 1956 as a Bachelor of Economics.
From 1960 to 1967 he was Private Secretary to Gough Whitlam, Leader of the Opposition. He then moved into the private sector for seven years as General Manager, News Limited, Sydney, publisher of ‘The Australian’.
John Menadue was head of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet from 1974 to 1976 and closely involved in the dismissal events of November 11, 1975 He worked for Prime Ministers Gough Whitlam and Malcolm Fraser.
From 1977-1980 he was Australian Ambassador to Japan.
He returned to Australia in 1980 to take up the position of Head, Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs where he was active with Malcolm Fraser and Ian Macphee in the settlement of large numbers of Indo Chinese refugees in Australia.
He was appointed Head of the Department of Trade in December 1983.
From 1986-1989 he was Chief Executive Officer of Qantas.
Later he was a Director of Telstra from December 1994 to October 1996 and Chairman of the Australia Japan Foundation from 1991 to 1998.
He chaired the NSW Health Council which reported to the NSW Minister for Health in March 2000 on changes to health services in NSW. He also chaired the SA Generational Health Review which reported to the SA Minister for Human Services in May 2003.
He chaired fundraising and volunteered for many years at the Matthew Hostel for homeless men.
As a Patron of the Asylum Seekers’ Centre in Sydney, he is active in refugee advocacy.
He launched his influential public policy journal Pearls and Irritations at johnmenadue.com in January 2013. There are now over 15,000 subscribers.

It was a rhetorical question
 
Yeah, but declining imperial powers do some pretty strange things.

DS

Maybe. I don't think any of us here disagree that Taiwan, a democracy, has a right to be independent from China. The US definitely wants to preserve its strategic influence in AsPac.

It's the argument that somehow the US can stop the economic development of Asia by intervening in a Chinese invasion of Taiwan that shows how off base these people are.
 
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