Do a bit of study before you gnash your teeth fellow commenters.

Despite the author's No Daru Fishing Industry message, the entry for Daru, Daru Island, PNG,

last updated 31 August 2020 (before the Chinese project) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daru_Island reads:

"The main industry on the island is fishing..."

PNG will make its own deals, as its sovereign right, perhaps to its own detriment given I doubt the CCP has any interest beyond its own to maximise the advantage for China.

But, it is all over for any stupid notion that Australia and the West can any longer embrace China under the CCP.

Australia and the West, after years of promoting freer trade, will have to learn that such a trend merely gave rise to a powerful mercantile nation determined to uphold its own national interest.

Both the left and right, represented by politics, the public service and think tanks, have failed badly with regard to the rise of China. Australia has lacked intellectual leadership by putting short-term gain ahead of longer term consequences.

All that matters now is how Australia and the West respond.

How the developing world responds, with its increasing reliance on the CCP, will also raise issues for themselves.

I still have faith in Western societies, so I largely ignore defeatism (and Mr O).

There is a train of thought emerging that China's behaviour will hurt its own economy most of all, and that the behaviour is uniting more and more countries against them.

Chris Lewis decides a simple course is to ignore Chinese incursions,
If that particular view is acceptable, then it’s a simple choice to raise the white flag.
However, that view ignores history and it’s lessons from historical consequences.

But, if a continuation of the historic view of Australia, where that history includes wars against the same Asian invaders, the Japanese, is the imperative. Then his view is treasonous.

We still celebrate ANZAC day for good reason.

Dan

Hi Dan,

don't talk bs.

I never said anything of the kind.

End of day, PNG will make its decisions. It is called reality.

Do you know what reality is?

Aust and the West can try and counter CCP aid, it can build military bases with support from allies, it can impose economic sanctions and tariffs, it can basically do what it likes as other countries do.

However, Australia is generally committed to a world order created by the West, and will always be more effective when working with real and potential allies.

Problem is that task is now that much harder.

But, at end of the day, a developing country will make its own mind up, as many have for many decades since 1945.

Lets hope PNG gets the balance right.

As for Chinese fishing in our waters, I am sure the CCP will test the waters given the scum they are.