If a country built a pontoon bridge out to an island they could claim the air base and planes. But then China would counter-claim by seizing the whole country at the other end and launching self-defence assault back on the island which then becomes irrelevant and China would sign the UN decision .

Bob Carr- writing from a China "research centre" - is defending the right of the Chinese to buy anything they want in Australia, including Ausgrid. You'll have to find his letter to the Herald here among all the others:

http://www.smh.com.au/comment/smh-letters/michael-kirby-is-right-on-samesex-marriage-plebiscite-20160823-gqywu9.html

Who funds this Institute? What place does it have at a university supposedly devoted to finding truth? What freedom do people have at universities in China? As much as they had during the war years in Japan, China and Germany, I'd bet

Hi Waverley,

If I were China (now, there's megalomania for you), I would be very wary of allowing any utilities or infrastructure, especially ports, to come under foreign control. Apart from the obvious imperialist connotations of such purchases or leases, the fragmentation of control of such major projects could cripple the country.

I would also be opposed to anyone concreting over an off-shore shoal, say 200 km from the Chinese mainland, putting an airfield on it and then stationing planes and ships there.

And what's sauce for the goose ......

Cheers,

Joe

"The upshot is that there now appears to be a greater openness in China – explicitly encouraged in China’s current 5-year plan – to allow greater participation of foreign investment in future infrastructure projects.

In Beijing alone the municipal authorities last year invited foreign participation on over 126 projects valued at $US 55 billion and are making soothing noises about ensuring foreign investors get a reasonable return.

Conceivably, in future some existing projects in China could even be privatized or handed over to foreign consortia to manage."

Chongyi Feng asks if we should celebrate Mao's anniversary in September at Sydney Town Hall:

https://theconversation.com/culture-free-speech-and-celebrating-mao-downunder-64360

Mao- a great hero or a brutal tyrant? Sounds like an argument that might attract a few, given the vociferous arguments going on about Asians buying up Australia's resources.
The Japanese failed to take control in World War II- maybe the Chinese will succeed?