How about our own Socialist government, which has a Foreign Minister rubbishing UK colonialism, and by default, us descendants of British settlers. Can we trust them on China?

Do China's serious 'diplomatic' blunders matter? China is a bully, not a diplomat; it's what they do, not what they say, that we have to worry about. As for the Pacific Islands, they will always go with the money that they can squeeze out of Australia or China. And, who has noticed this 'spectacular backfiring'?

China is an increasing threat to Australia, no matter what tinpot Islands do - no matter what amateur commentators say.

If true, good news for Australia and Australians. If less so for our academic elite, who tend to run in the groove of "China good US bad".

This was one area where our scarcely lamented "Bit Of A Bulldozer" had good instincts, and it's interesting to see him re-engage, in his Tokyo speech. Could be worse - he could be spruiking Pentecostalism.

We will not be told where and how to invest! We already have over a trillion dollars of debt to service. Investments require good security that can vanish with a change of government.

What we can and should do is provide small modular nuclear reactors as MSR thorium and that will enable many small village enterprises to get up and going. And if well managed create total self-sufficiency. Besides, almost every nation on planet earth has some thorium.

Just one handful of Mumbai beach sand contains enough energy to power India for a year. Imagine how long it would power a much smaller Figi, for example.

Moreover, nuclear power coupled to know science/technology can turn seawater into alternative fuels suitable to run any engine very economically! And become the basis of a plastics and or fertilizer industries.

I mean the world is going electric, cars, trucks, buses, trams, trains and even short hop airplanes. After that we need to grow our own economy like, gangbusters. And that will require a transition ASAP to the nuclear energy referenced.

Put the hand out by all means but not for cash but stuff we can and should make here at home, e.g., SMR's as MSR thorium. And those as gifts, will go on giving for decades after receipt!
Alan B.

The bad news is China will takeover more Island Nations in the end, due to:

- patience, much longer than Australia's 3 year electoral cycle. Even if it takea 30 years, Vanuatu and maybe even Fiji will succumb.

- China Inc. having no problem about bribing Islander Parliamentarians, 1000s of villigers, and businessmen.

- China Inc (of Chinese Communist Party directed businesses) is faster moving and has deeper pockets (world's second largest economy) than Australia.

All bad news.

China is an increasing threat to Australia,
ttbn,
China is threat #2 after the average selfish blasé bogan here !

Indyvidual

Agree with you on the bogans.

Maverick

Do think it is entirely impossible that our politicians wouldn't take bribes from China, too. One Australian Socialist politician had a few bills paid by a Chinese business man with close ties to the CCP, if I remember correctly.

And, what about the jobs from China available to retired Australian politicians from both sides of politics? I could name one from Labor and one from the Liberals. I bet you could too.

It's just as well someone (Morrison) has spoken up on China. I don't recall the Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister, Simon Birmingham, or the Shadow Defence Minister, Andrew Hastie, saying much about China. And, the head man, Dutton, is a wet blanket - or more like one of those cardboard planes and tanks cut outs used during WW2 to fool the enemy into thinking that they were the real thing.

Once China has the Fish stocks, timber, mineral resources and infrastructure she wants, all those who accepted bribes to facilitate the outcome will be no longer of any use or concern. And can GFY for all China cares.
Alan B.

It was good to see Jeffrey Wall's commonsense assessment of the reverse China has suffered in the SW Pacific. There's no doubt the Albanese government (which is about as socialist as a bagel with soft cheese and caviare) has managed a vital political and diplomatic reset in our region. It was well past time for a cool change. No more "Scary monsters! Scary monsters!"

'China has lost significant ground in our region'

Really? - Did they sell some back to us?
- Doesn't matter, they've still got plenty.

How much of Australia's land is owned by China?
http://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/how-much-of-australias-land-is-owned-by-china-210213000.html