The National Forum   Donate   Your Account   On Line Opinion   Forum   Blogs   Polling   About   
The Forum - On Line Opinion's article discussion area



Syndicate
RSS/XML


RSS 2.0

Main Articles General

Sign In      Register

The Forum > Article Comments > Nothing inevitable about the Asian Century > Comments

Nothing inevitable about the Asian Century : Comments

By Graham Cooke, published 8/8/2012

Australia, along with other Western nations, must stand up for the freedoms we value in the face of a power that values them little or not at all.

  1. Pages:
  2. Page 1
  3. 2
  4. All
Right on Mr C
Posted by Chris Lewis, Wednesday, 8 August 2012 7:54:53 AM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
Yes, I entirely agree, there is indeed, nothing inevitable about the "Asian Century" or Chinese hegemony. Economic and geo-political forecasts are notoriously unreliable, I'm old enough to remember the "Japan as #1" craze and the earlier daft notion that the USSR would overtake the USA, and about 100 years ago Argentina was predicted to leave Australia far behind in economic development. I can't think of any examples where authoritarian regimes have out-performed liberal democracies on a long term basis.
Despite what China's apologists might claim, the Middle Kingdom, when powerful, has a history of aggression against its neighbours, which they certainly haven't forgotten.

Unfortunately, Australians appear to be trapped by the 'Great and Powerful Friend' syndrome, which drastically reduces our economic and geo-political opportunities.
Posted by mac, Wednesday, 8 August 2012 8:36:50 AM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
Oh dear, yet another "us vs. them" article. The underlying assumption of which is always "we are right because we are so wonderfully democratic, and they are wrong because they are not".

Too little credit has been given to the massive "human rights" benefits that accrue from the simple fact of lifting hundreds of millions out of poverty, thanks to China's acceptance of the need to trade with the rest of the world.

But the tenor of the article seems to be about power. Which leads to the creation of some very odd straw men.

>>There is almost universal acquiescence that the boot is being transferred to the other foot and before long we will all be dancing to Beijing's tune.<<

And pray tell, when exactly was Beijing "dancing to our tune", in order for that boot to be transferred?

More instant mythology has been generated about China's future than is healthy, in my view. Hong Kong is of course thoroughly entitled to protest in the manner that it does, and long may it continue to do so. However, it is somewhat instructive that these protests are being handled in a manner far more in tune with that of "western democracy" than previous outbreaks of dissent. Progress is, it would appear, being made.

By the way, if it is true that we are being fooled at the negotiation table into thinking that we are dependent upon China's goodwill in order to trade, that only illustrates a massive deficiency in the training of our sales force. Which, as it happens, wouldn't surprise me one little bit.
Posted by Pericles, Wednesday, 8 August 2012 8:40:42 AM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
Power is indeed relevant to any debate about rising and declining nations. Always has and always will.

Just observe authoritarian China and watch how it behaves as its material resources grow.
Posted by Chris Lewis, Wednesday, 8 August 2012 8:59:32 AM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
Sir. 'Australia, along with other Western nations, must stand up for the freedoms we value in the face of a power that values them little or not at all'. Brave words in the preamble but I would take issue with you on two points. Firstly I suggest, as you point out in the preamble, China views our Western notions of democracy et al as mere abberations and irrelevant in regaining chinas's 'face' and rightful place in the world after the trauma of the 'opium' wars and the sacking of the 'forbidden' city. All may, and will, be subordinated to this aim. Secondly, if we in OZ are so fired up and superior in maintaining said freedoms, why are we not taking a harder line with Indonesia in it's present 'rape' of West Papua and it's wanton killings of the indiginees? We, under Whitlam, cravenly assented to the 'act of free choice' which consigned these people to servitude and genocide and we owe it to them bigtime to help them now!
Posted by Brisbob, Wednesday, 8 August 2012 9:56:22 AM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
China-bashing is popular these days, isn't it?

Australians ignore the warmongering of the U.S., its imperialism, its endless war strategy, its use of rendition and torture, its military bases spread across the world and, like the cringing sycophants that we are, laud America, cozy up to it, even allow it to expand its military on our soil as it tries to contain and box in China.

China is not without faults but neither is the U.S. That is why we should be independent of both, forge our own destiny instead of following in America's bloody footsteps while China makes us rich!

Give China a chance. It has survived a long time. It will show a maturity that the U.S., a johnny come lately, has never had.
Posted by David G, Wednesday, 8 August 2012 10:33:44 AM
Find out more about this user Visit this user's webpage Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
  1. Pages:
  2. Page 1
  3. 2
  4. All

About Us :: Search :: Discuss :: Feedback :: Legals :: Privacy