Two bob each way is always a conservative gamblers choice.

Australia should look towards the history of Finland for guidance on how to live in two worlds and stay alive.

Dan.

I read Murray Hunter's submission, shaking my head in pitying wonder?

His submission appears to be such a pack of lies, that a reasonable person could conclude that he might be an agent for China?

China's "conciliatory" approach to the Albanese government was to demand that we cow tow to China and do things we constitutionally can not even do. China demanded that the Australian government stop Australian media from criticising China. Like, your kidding, ma-a-a-a-te?

The present Emperor of China may be able to control the media's free speech within his own kingdom, but Australia is a democracy. The Emperor also had his eunuchs demand that Australia do a lot of other things we are just not going to do. How Murray thinks that this is Australia being confrontational to China, completely flabbergasts me? Perhaps he has been reading The Global Times too much, and he is beginning to think like a Chinese Emperor?

Look Murray! China is now a fascist state like Russia, and it is hell bent upon global domination. Totalitarians never respect weakness, they only respect strength. The psychopaths who run these fascist or left wing totalitarian states are so used to demanding that their own people jump to whatever they demand, that they think that they can do the same thing to the rest of the world. It probably astonishes them that little countries like Australia and Ukraine will oppose their threats. Because that is what the "suggestions" are, Murray. Threats. Not "conciliation."

One demand that is unacceptable to Australia is the Emperors demand that Australia renounce our alliance with the USA. That is exactly like if Ukraine had been a member of NATO, Putin demanding it renounce it's membership of NATO. Yeah, sure.

Australia has done some pretty stupid things lately, Murray. it has embraced this climate chanfge religion, it panders to those who wish to create racial separatism in Australia, but we are not stupid enough (yet) to renounce our alliance with the USA.

Stop repeating Chinese propaganda and get back on the side of your own civilisation Murray.

Short of persuading the other members of the Quad to change the date of the meeting, Albanese had no option but to 'rush off' when he did. Let's be a bit reasonable. The other trips were dubious, but the Quad is about our security.

As for Assange! Get over him!

"Letting any opportunity of rapprochement with China slip away"?

It is simply amazing to think that anybody still believes that the CCP is interested in 'rapprochement'.

"Australia must treat China as a partner, not an adversary".

What a load of BS. It is the CCP that is treating Australia as an adversary, needling and provoking all the time, demanding things like 'respect' for their totalitarianism - just waiting for someone to 'lose it' so they have an excuse to act against us with more than words.

It's a good thing people like Murray Hunter are restricted to expressing opinions and not putting those opinions into practice.

So China's view of world anything is complex, like their Australian boycotts that are friendly and only for our benefit ?

Secondly ,and this I do like " understand the history of South-East Asia where China has been there for centuries, coexisting with the various peoples."

China's neighbours might have a different view of China's 'coexistace" with them over the past centuries to your view !

I see little merit in the (China lick ass) article! And contend we have given all the concessions to a sabre rattling and visibly hostile China as we are going to.

And need to press on with the nuclear sub deal, the transition to a nuclear powered, nuclear armed state! Starting ASAP with a couple of nuclear capable, leased nuclear subs!

China changed our relationship, we did nothing save a gormlous peabrain PM shooting from the lip!

My reaction to the Chinese embargos would have been to immediately extend it to all trade goods, theirs and ours! The sooner we end this asinine economic and subservient reliance on the Chinese the better.

And begin ASAP to transition to a nuclear powered nuclear armed middle power And entirely replace China as a trading partner with others who are not offended by the truth!
Alan B.

As far as China is concerned, there is a meeting of Indo-Pacific chiefs of defence this week in Sydney where key topics will be China's escalating military growth and the need to maintain a free, open and peaceful Pacific.

US military officials have said Beijing wants to be ready to make a move on Taiwan by 2027. Not much hope of being 'partners' with the CCP. The very idea that a democratic country could pal up with Communism is highly offensive.