If the Chinese navy got a foothold on Manus Island that would help strengthen their grip on the South China Sea. I see one of the Solomon Islands wants to disinvite China. My theory is that China is inching its way across the Pacific to make an Antarctic land grab which the rest of the world will be powerless to stop.

Our own rapidly deteriorating economy is a bit of a problem too; and everyone except our stupid politicians are aware of the China threat. Like Australia, PNG's biggest problem is its politicians and, of course, the complacent citizens who tolerate the buffoons and encourage them by voting for them regularly.

It is no secret that the most virulent criticisms of Australia and Australians come from Australians themselves. Whatever ambitions China might have, the greatest threat to the civilisation built by the English-speaking peoples is not abroad but at home.

We don't need a "better understanding" of China; we need a better understanding of ourselves. We believe in life, freedom, self-reliance and a fair go. We believe in the right to property, equality of opportunity, the importance of the individual and the family, and the need to balance rights with responsibilities. We are still able to say what we think.

The notion that we have to choose between our traditional ally and like-minded democracy, America, and totally alien and totalitarian Communist China is absurd.

PNG is beyond our help. The choice to fall for China's debt trap has been made, as it will be by Victoria unless Scott Morrison stops talking and actually does something (he has probably left it too late). China is already waging a cold war against us, and they are openly preparing for a real war: their mad Red Emperor has ordered them to prepare for it. It's no secret. Nor is our totally unprepared state and inability to defend ourselves any secret.

Taswegian. Well reasoned. And typical of the long game of the Chinese. While the warm and comfortable frog (we) looks on. Then when it's too hot, just unable to move, given the proverbial goose is well and truly cooked.

As our (do SFA) career pollies thunder and roar at the dispatch box, totally ineffectually, as they seek to blame anybody/everybody except the man in the mirror!
Alan B.

FM!

Dan

Taswegian,

If the Chinese get the PNGers by the short and curlies financially, they won't worry much about Manus, they'll go straight for a major naval base in Port Moresby.

But Antarctica ? Remember the Japanese war strategy - take PNG, then feint towards Darwin (who would be stupid enough to invade Australia through Darwin, and then slog two or three thousand miles across open and mostly waterless country to Brisbane or Adelaide ?) but move your navy and air force from bases in PNG towards the north Queensland coast, then down to Brisbane, then Sydney, then Melbourne, and then the biggest prize of all: Adelaide ?

Perth, you can pick up, all in good time.

THEN Antarctica :)

Joe

Chinese foreign aid is very concerning. There needs to be an international policy to this.