Xi Jinping, president for life, is certainly in the lineup with Hitler, Stalin,Tojo and Mao.

For the "the 'visionary' Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)", we need to substitute 'aggressive' and 'warlike'. It certainly has no place in the Western world, nor in the Third World, unless they are happy to be in permanent thrall to China. The BRI's advantages for China are spelled out very well by the author. It's a pity about the frustration China is facing from "democratic governments that must take into account broad community sentiments …"!

We all know what China is "due", and it sure as Hell is not tribute.

Now this is definitely a fascinating topic.

When I think of the BRI I see this image of China as a giant red and gold octopus with its tentacles stretching across every part of the world.

It is all-devouring and nothing can escape its grasp.

And then suddenly I see Foul-Mouth and Foxy aka the Beijing Butterfly screaming abuse at me as they play the race card shouting me down that the Chinese have just as much right to control the world as did a Hitler or a Stalin.

"Damn!" I say "I keep forgetting China has friends everywhere."

If we are to talk about tributes, a general who refused to send in troops against the protesters in Tian An men Square in June 1989 has died:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xu_Qinxian

I suppose he was lucky that he wasn't run over by a tank, like so many protesters. Or forced into lifelong manual labour, as so many Uighurs are now forced to do under the imperialist Chinese, and probably Tibetans as well.

Somebody mentioned Taiwan: The Manchus took it over in 1684:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Taiwanese_history#3rd_century

The Japanese invaded in 1895 and it did not become 'Chinese' until after World War II.

So, strictly speaking, Taiwan was 'Chinese' for barely four years in all of its history.

Tibet, of course, was more or less independent (while paying tribute to the Manchus) until 1959.

Sinjiang was independent of China until after WW II. The Russians controlled it until 1945 and declared a 'people's republic' there.

Inner Mongolia was of course part of Mongolia and did not come under Chinese rule until after the 1911 revolution.

So the Chinese Empire continues, with a Han core (and non-Han Chinese mainly in the south and south-west) and a larger area of non-Chinese dependencies.

Joe

Foul-Mouth,

You are extremely well-read but you just regurgitate what you read verbatim void of critical thought and comparative analysis.

I think you would have loved to have been an academic lecturing in the Arts things like history, sociology, anthropology, archaeology, philosophy, etc. but unfortunately you didn't make the grade and even worse you got a job with the Australian branch of Beijing Boyz & Associates.

If it's due? Why not?
Alan B.

Well, this is not what I would call being in the spirit of the BRI:

http://www.msn.com/en-au/news/world/china-slams-australian-government-for-politicising-trade-over-decision-to-block-probuild-sale-to-chinese-company/ar-BB1cHwtV

Foul-Mouth and Foxy aka the Beijing Butterfly are going to be really pissed off when they see this.

Hitler built Germany's great autostradas that are still in use even today (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reichsautobahn): an enormous project that employed millions and stopped the crippling hyper-inflation.

By God's grace we conquered Hitler - by God's grace we shall conquer the Chinese evil as well.

<< ... since it was also in 2012 that a ripple started in east Asia that has turned into a tsunami of tension and change in the region ... For it was then, that Xi Jinping – viewed widely as a predictable, moderate, consensus-and-continuity candidate – was appointed general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party. >>

The real tension began with Barack Obama's announced Pivot to Asia which occurred nearly twelve months before Xi's appointment. It would be very interesting to know just how assertive Xi would have become without this US pivot and its belligerent muscle-flexing in the Asian region. Of course, we'll never know, but we do need to acknowledge the effect of this threatening posture and the way the US has militarily surrounded China and aggressively sought to contain it.

When considering the enormity of constantly having to deal with this ongoing and hostile provocation, Xi's Belt and Road Initiative is a surprisingly generous, visionary and constructive response.

It is a mistake to lump all Chinese in Australia together as supporters of the present government of China and the CCP. The Hong Kong Chinese who demonstrated for democracy seem to be as much for democracy as anybody else who supports democracy. Some of the Chinese in Australia probably support the CCP. The Chinese government has supplied minders to keep them in line. However, the fact that there are minders means the CCP is unsure of their allegiance. The Chinese who have immigrated to Australia are like any other group who have come to Australia. They have many different opinions, allegiances and objectives. To assume otherwise is like labelling all English as monarchists or all Germans as Nazis. It is reasonable to fear the aims of the present Chinese government. It is unreasonable to assume that all Chinese in Australia or in China support that government.

Dear David,

Very true!

But what do you suggest we do?
We have so many innocent healthy people in quarantine only because others have COVID.

Dear Yuyutsu,

In war as in public health innocent healthy people suffer. Comparing our death & sickness rate from COVID with that of the US & Brazil where there is not so strict lockdown our strict quarantine measures seem justified.

Dear David,

Yes of course, but my question to you was about Chinese Australians: to what extent and for how long do we need to treat them similarly and keep them away from society, even while we know that the vast majority of them are good people who have no sympathy whatsoever for the CCP? Should we even break up and separate families because some members were born in China? Where is the point where we get to behave so much like Nazis that our own lives is no longer worth it?

It's all just one way with the Chinese, their way:

http://www.msn.com/en-au/news/other/china-warns-australia-about-its-international-reputation-after-probuild-block/ar-BB1cJl10

If there's a positive impact of the pandemic it is that most countries around the world have realised that it was a big mistake to jump into bed with the Chinese.

But, don't forget, there is always Mr Opinion's 10 point plan to placate the Chinese. I reckon it's a winner and will also make The Forum's pro-China camp happy.

Dear Yuyutsu,

I don't understand your question since I didn't advocate treating Australian Chinese differently from Australian English or Australian Germans. As far as I know the Australian government is not treating them differently from other Australians.

david f

What is (1) Australian Chinese (2) Australian English (3) Australian German?

Are you referring to Australian language groups or foreign communities in Australia?

Dear Mr Opinion,

Australian non-Australian country indicates an Australian who identifies with a non-Australian country or whose origin is in a non-Australian country. I am an Australian American since I was born in the United States of America and identify with Australia and the United States. However, we Australian Americans have different attitudes toward the US government, toward the Australian government and in other areas. We are a diverse lot. I imagine the Australian Chinese are also a diverse lot.

If any immigrant is admitted into Australia, they are admitted with potentially the full rights of Australians. Once they attain citizenship, then they have manifestly full rights like any other Australian.

There are no first-class and second-class Australians.

Some of you proto-fascists need to suck it up.

Joe

david f,

Don't you think that all of these cultural taxonomies have got out of hand?

I would call you an American because you qualify unequivocally as an American. As a sub-definition I would then say you have dual American and Australian citizenship (assuming this is correct.) As a sub-sub-definition I would say you are a resident of Australia.

Whichever context you choose to behave in or adopt will be dependent on the set of social, political and cultural circumstances prevailing at a particular time.

I am just an Australian because I qualify unequivocally as an Australian void of other non-Australian social, political and cultural attributes.

Dear David and Joe,

It would be terrible to treat Australians of Chinese origin differently than other Australians. However, we do already treat Australians differently based on their potential exposure to COVID-19.

Innocent healthy Australians are being locked up and suffer as we speak because they had contact with infected people. This is very painful.

As much as we like to treat everyone equally and love our Chinese brothers and sisters, the sad truth is that those who had close contact with CCP propaganda, coercion and surveillance are overwhelmingly likely to be of Chinese origins. Anyone is at risk of catching COVID-19, but their situation is more akin to those living in Melbourne's public-housing high-rise towers. Worse even, this nightmarish risk does not go away after 14 days.

It is extremely painful and difficult to decide where to draw the line, but one thing is certain: the response must include strong measures of testing, contact-tracing and quarantine.

Foul-Mouth and david f,

What do you think about this?

http://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/melbourne-family-planning-private-jet-flight-to-new-zealand-to-secure-australian-visa/ar-BB1cL7yO

I reckon they should enrol in a masters degree in a Victorian uni migrant processing program which will get them a temporary residency visa and then get a job after graduating with a Chinese owned company operating in Australia in order to qualify for a permanent residency visa.

What would you suggest?