Mr O, nonsense. Australia has not sold all its gas to China, we have huge reserves not utilised and developed yet. Regardless, we have contractual arrangements to sell to China amongst other countries, the gas is not "sold" until its shipped. Any start up of another cold war could well affect those contractual arrangements putting China between a rock and a hard place. There is no way they could run their economy on their own coal reserves, at current rates of coal consumption they have around 30 years of coal left including unproven reserves, also given that pollution and air quality is currently an enormous issue for them. They are well aware that they cannot continue to pollute their country on the massive scale they have previously.

China might not be able to get by without products other nations possess, but China controls 80% - 90% of the worlds supply of rare earth minerals, that the worlds militaries (and our mobile phones) rely upon.

http://www.mattcanavan.com.au/atlantic_council

Foxy, I think you are a bit naïve when it comes to China.

China is a real threat to the world, and virtually all nations in our region know it.

All authoritarian regimes are grubs, because no accountability allows those with power to do what they like.

The same would go in Australia and the USA if there was no legal framework to limit power and promote pluralism.

But Australians have finally woken from their slumber and see China for what it is.

China will never be a superpower, but a powerful nation supported by fellow authoritarian nations who see their salvation in controlling their people.

Chris Lewis

With respect, I suggest you're the naive one here. You’ve made a lot of sweeping statements. You’re doing a lot of demonising. And how much of it is based on evidence? Or have you merely jumped on the latest band wagon of creating an enemy where there isn’t one?

In exactly what way is China a real threat to the world? Yes, it’s an authoritarian state. And yes, it has a large population, a large land mass and a large economy. And yes, it’s engaging with the world to a greater extent than it has in its more recent past. But none of that in itself makes China a threat to world peace.

It can equally be argued that China’s presence in the world is actually a stabilising force and a much-needed counter-balance to US hegemony. The US might be a democracy, but it has arguably done far more to endanger the world than China ever has. The US is responsible for more than 50% of the world’s military expenditure. It has invaded or bombed dozens of countries since the end of WW2, while China has invaded one. The US military drops a bomb somewhere in the world around every twelve minutes. It has around 800 military bases in over 160 countries. The US has militarily occupied the globe in a way China has never sought to do.

The US has overthrown or attempted to overthrow dozens of foreign governments since WW2. It has imposed sanctions on countries posing little or no threat to anyone else and these sanctions have brought misery and death to millions of people. What gives the US the right to bully sovereign nations in this way? How many countries has China similarly attempted to bully into submission?

By all means, argue your case, but I’m sure it will carry far more weight in the minds of readers if you can do so without resorting to lazily labelling your critics as naive.

Bronwyn,

From your statements to Chris Lewis above I think everyone can see that you belong to the pro-China camp and that you are against the US.

You say you are not Chinese but the structure of your arguments indicate to me that you are either Chinese or in the pay of the Chinese because all you seem to be concerned with is protecting China from criticism at a time when China is threatening Australia with cyber attacks and trade restrictions to undermine our security and wellbeing.

If you watched TV news today you will have noticed that China has ramped up its attacks on Australia, accusing Australian diplomats and journalists in China of espionage and indicating that it might place them under arrest.

So it is looking more and more like the battle lines in a war of words are being drawn and you and LOUDmouth and Shadow Minister seem to have chosen to be in the pro-China camp.

ok, naive may be a word too strong. Sorry Foxy.

But, yes I am a communist China hater, and proud of it. my many efforts since 2009 have plenty of evidence, me think.

China an equal counter to the US?

Please Bronwyn, you need to explain that silly proposition.

All great powers will do their share of dirty work, but you can be sure Chinese hegemony, which will never happen (thank God), will be much worse.