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?