All true, Chris, but there is too much emphasis on political rights: the people of China and its colonies suffer actual oppression of their personal and religious freedoms, not just some abstract deprivation of politics.

It is not the first time in history that a man (why rarely a woman) called himself "God" and demanded that he be worshipped alone.

Around 5250 years ago, such an evil person, Kamsa, came to power, oppressed the sages and terrorised the world. It was bad enough for the Lord to incarnate Himself in the form of Shri Krishna in order to save the world. The young Krishna killed all the demons that were sent by Kamsa and eventually, while still a boy, killed Kamsa himself.

Today is Krishna's birthday. Today we are reminded that no evil can rule forever, that while we now suffer, eventually God alone will prevail.

Blessings of freedom to all!

One of the main differences between the USA and China, is that the USA has a lot of friends around the world, and China has none at all. China is acting like it can do whatever it wants to in the world and that is getting up the noses of a lot of other countries. Even Chile opened fire and sank a couple of Chinese fishing boats recently who ignored warning to get out of Chilean fishing grounds. The Chinese had tried to ram the Chilean Navy ship sent to warn them off. Chinese support for Muduro in Venezuela is not making China any friends in South America.

The South East Asians despise and fear China because of it's bellicose and illegal actions in the South China Sea. The Indians are very wary of them, and they regard the recent illegal building of a road by China in the Himalayas to be an invasion route from China to India.

The war in Vietnam showed the USA, that even a superpower could take on more than it could chew. With almost the entire world stacking up against China, it looks like the Chinese are about to discover this self same truth.

Strategically, China is in a very poor position. It's absolutely essential maritime trade routes can be easily blocked. And it would be unable to mount counter strikes against the US mainland in time of war, unless it used conventionally armed ICBM, and that would be insane. They can't even cope with a trade war with the USA now, so how they would cope with a real war is something the Chinese don't want to think about.

Meanwhile, the US could easily isolate the Chinese garrisons on their man made islands and could take the fight to China itself using B2 bombers, plus air, submarine and surface launched cruise missiles, and carrier born warplanes.

The USA will always be 20 years in front of the Chinese and the Russians, because the Americans have to invent it, design it, and build it, before the Chinese and Russians can steal it.

But, do Australians "value their freedoms"? Many of them, dull and self-absorbed, don't seem to; they are not aware of what is at stake.

China cannot do without its economic ties to us. We need to stop thinking that we need China more than China needs us; it isn't true. Besides, the lazy tycoons, always after easy money, need to get off their backsides, start showing some patriotism, and sign up other markets.

The "investments" in Africa are all about China, not Africa. China is intruding into s..thole countries to entrap them with debt that they can never repay, so China can take payment in kind with military bases to further menace the West.

China has no intention of helping any country; it has no intention of being friendly to any country. China's only interest is world domination. And, there are countries like Fiji, lurking near Australia, only too willing to help them achieve it for a fistful of dollars.

What's going on with ScuMo. One minute he's telling everyone how great it is being in the pocket of China and next minute he trying to give China the old heave ho!

Well, one thing we do know for sure: Australia has a Chinese future.

What we should do and what we can do are two very different things! We're so economically dependant on our trade deals with China, we cannot afford to upset out benefactor!

Moreover, we have numerous self-serving Quislings here at home willing to accommodate the Chinese in almost anything, real estate, Iconic manufacturing, arable land and a port.

And let's not forget how dangerously dependent we've allowed ourself to become on Chinese students and Chinese tourists! Instead of the robust manufacturing sector, we used to have!

President Roosevelt nailed it when he said, talk softly, but carry a big stick!

He was able to back his demands with a very large and powerful military and an extremely efficient and robust manufacturing sector.

Our military? Could do what? And our manufacturing sector has been effectively dismantled by visionless idealogues! Who have been so busy looking after themselves and their cronies, they, like the proverbial frog being slowly brought to the boil in a pot of warm and comfortable water, couldn't see what was coming. or the danger there.

Just don't comprehend what they've done! And probably don't give a rats?

And refuse though prohibition to take the necessary steps to make this nation strong enough to say no to Bejing TBC
Alan B.

I apologise if you have seen this previously but perhaps it is news to some.

Chinese Reality
China, the Central Kingdom, believes that only China is a sovereign
country, all other peripheral countries are vassal states.
These other states must pay tribute.
China believes this rather surprising attitude is real and based on its history.
This principle is known as "tianxia".

China was not a party to the 1646 Westphalian Treaty which defined
what is a sovereign country and describes how a countries borders are defined.
As a result China does not recognise the treaty.
It believes in its own definitions.
As a result President Xi Jingping recently made the point
that the United States is NOT a sovereign country.
They do not recognise the definition of what a sovereign country or
borders etc means.

Chinese believe that all other countries are vassel states to China
and owe tribute. This system was in operation for centuries but the
arrival of voyaging Europeans resulted in it being an uninforcible policy.

Today the current Chinese government is starting to operate as if
Tianxia is a viable and acceptable policy.
This can be seen in such actions as the Sth China Sea claims and
ordering other countries navies and aircraft to leave the area
immeadiatly in a most perfunctury manner.
They simply do not accept the law of the sea and impose their own rules.
This attitude makes it believe they can shine lasers into the eyes of
pilots of US military aircraft. Other countries are not sovereign and
are subserviant to Chinese policy.
Their intrusion into Vietnamese coastal waters and economic zones is
another example.

The current attempts to capture Pacific Island countries by means of
debt traps will need to be opposed.

We need to adjust our relations with China in a way
as to demonstrate that such an attitude is not aceptible.

If we bear tainxai in mind we will understand better what is going on.

We need to think logically and strategically And start sourcing all we get from China elsewhere, we need a policy of never ever sending anything from here that is not value-added!

And we could help our near northern neighbours to Manufacture our entire garment and footwear requirements!?. And with our cotton, wool an leather!

Such two-way trade arrangements would work well in nations like East Timour And several economically depressed Asian/Pacific nation-states. besides fruit picking!

The key to all of the above is cheap safe clean affordable carbon-free energy! Only thorium would allow that given every nation has thorium.

Why a handful of Mumbai beach sand has enough inherent thorium to power India for a year!

While many Pacific nations do not have oil coal or gas, they all have some thorium!?

It'd be hard to find any land that didn't have any, given it is found in Granite and many alluvial deposits. And is energy-dense enough to import economically!

And found as deposits with airborne surveys using side-looking radar!

Affordable energy will allow many options not currently available included some reclaimed land, seawalls deionisation dialysis desalination, brickworks, recycling projects etc.

I mean our rare earth is be shipped and processed in Malaysia, with the thorium component treated as toxic tailings!

And then we wonder why we are slowly going backwards when dumb decisions like that are made to save a few pennies/ escape minute tax liabilities!
Alan B.

Alan you are GOLD, where did you get this one from?

“And found as deposits with airborne surveys using side-looking radar!”.

Well if you are airborne, I guess searching sideways will find...mmm that would be air, perhaps the occasional cloud, or if you are really, really lucky another plane or even a duck.

Quack, quack!

Galen, I believe you are a gold-plated ignorant fool!

I used to earn my living among other disciples as an assayer working for a mining company. And I'm here to educate you, that thorium was and still is, used as an indicator mineral to find other mineral deposits! And by aerial survey, using side-looking radar! Moreover, I've done some prospecting and even applied for mineral leases!

You can go quack, quack all damned day, but your fundamental ignorance of prospecting/mineral surveys will always remain just as it is!

Given you are a fulsome fatuous fool/airhead, who knows SFA about mining, prospecting or minerals And are content to remain just as ignorant as you now are! Y'll have a nice day now, y'hear. oink, oink.
Alan B.

searching sideways will find...mmm that would be air,
Galen,
Are you attempting of having us on ?

Simplicity:

China is not the problem...Chinese are the problem. Whoever and wherever they are.

Dear diver dan,

Well you will definitely find a lot of Chinese in Sydney.

Side looking radar has been used for decades. It applies to one side of the bandwidth and not the application! The fact that you didn't know this less than subtle point Galen! Points to the fact that you are much dumber than you look!

And currently just opening your mouth to change socks. Suggest you engage brain before putting mouth into gear in the future. Albeit, that might require you to tolerate a strange burning smell and a novel new experience, as previously unused cerebral circuits are finally forced to function.

Better the world should think you an idiot than open your mouth to remove all doubt!

Y'll have a nice day now, y'hear.
Alan B.

Interesting to hear mentioned on The Insiders this morning that ScuMo during his visit to Vietnam avoided using the word 'China' when criticising someone who was bullying his/her way into the South China Sea: He/she who cannot be named! Good old ScuMo still playing one side off against the other.

Mr Opinionated,

It's called diplomacy. What would you have done instead, from the virtuous safety your ivory tower ? Ever thought of trying it ?

Joe

Dear Loudmouth,

I would call a spade a shovel.

China has annexed the South China Sea and soon it will be in control of the South Pacific. And then it's only a stone's throw to Australia which will be a pushover for China's military, doing what Japan failed to do back in 1942.

Hmmm side looking radar was invented as a countermeasure as I understand it.
It had nothing to do with bandwidth.
It was used in antisubmarine warfare also.
An aircraft using forward radar is detectable long before it sees echos.
So the target could manover away from the aircraft.
The sideways radar by the time the enemy detects it, it is too late.
Someone with more direct experience than me might like to clarify.

Well, one thing we do know for sure: Australia has a Chinese future.
Mr Opinion,
Something tells me that it will be China that won't have a future !

Hey Bazz,

I found the article

Cook, J., et al. 'Quantifying the consensus on anthropogenic global warming in the scientific literature', Environmental Research Letters 8 (2), 2013.

I must admit feeling a little concerned over both, the obvious and the anecdotal evidence on China's posturing and commentary.
There does seem to be a slow but concerted and serious game of chess going on with China and certain other countries.
Using Australia as an example, why did China lease the Darwin Port?
Why are they slowly 'spreading their wings'?
Are they merely yawning, or are they in the early stages of expanding their influence and/or control over certain countries and it's resources?
Not being one to follow the many differing and changing world events, I lack the ability to read things clearly.
I am not too disappointed though, because I know that's how politics works, especially when PC is the preferred language.
I cannot however, shake off this feeling of impending doom, which in English translates to WAR!
Can't put my finger on it, but there are certain factors occurring, that in the past, were precursors to war.
One of them being this world recession/depression we are expecting.
Then we see all this "shirt fronting" going on, only leaves me with more questions and even more uncertainty.

Dear ALTRAV,

Are you from Sydney? Have you visited Sydney?

Mr O

not for a while, but am aware of the "problem".
I have been challenged, in the past about the very real threat that migration poses on a country.
The best example I can give is the Melbourne Mayor.
He was Chinese, not long been in Australia, could not speak English.
So I am acutely aware of what you speak.
A Muslim leader once said, "we will take over the world without firing a single bullet".
Another example is Turkey.
Import enough of a particular race or creed and you risk creating your own problem.

Dear ALTRAV,

You should visit Sydney. It's a real eye-opener. Sydney truly is Australia's first Chinese city. Equivalent to Singapore.

I think it is inevitable that China will invade Australia. Japan tried it back in 1942. Big country, sparsely populated, lots of natural resources - all the things China needs to feed its growing hunger for a world empire.

The enemy is already inside the gate and unlike 1942 I don't think America will come to our rescue.