Sorry Reg, but you have only yourself to blame.

>>...it seems that Australian comforts and certainties, long nurtured by Anglo-American intellectual apartheid, will continue to shelter most of us from a rapidly shifting reality. Sadly, these comforts and certainties will not stop those with more energy, knowledge and purpose from crossing the waters, attracted by all our goodies, tripping us up and knocking us down. Pity that so many think glib cracks are an adequate response to the gathering challenge.<<

You made such an extremely loose and superficial case, it is hardly a wonder that some will say "so what?"

Where is the threat?

Let's have a look at your concerns.

"a possibility, where international financial and institutional norms might be determined more in Beijing, Tokyo, New Delhi and even Moscow than in traditional, English speaking centres like London, Washington and New York."

It is certainly a possibility. What you fail to communicate is exactly how this might affect us.

"Western concern over human rights is used often in the English language media to confuse and mislead about contests where American economic interests are losing out to those of China."

One market force gives way to another, one weakens as another strengthens. And this a problem for whom, exactly?

"BRIC unites the major economic growth centres with more than half the world’s population, the role of which in international affairs will grow... Somewhat troublingly for Australia, these four nations all compare favourably with Australia in their potential for mineral commodity production. Moreover, two of them are today’s most important markets for mineral commodities."

Again, you state some facts, but fail to explain why we should be trembling in our shoes.

"the AMF, which has the potential to begin the unraveling of the whole international institutional system put in place by the British and Americans after victory in 1945. This includes the United Nations, the World Trade Organization and all other global institutions where Anglo-American power is disproportionate to 21st century realities."

And therefore...?

Just crying "the sky is falling" doesn't help at all.

Pericles, thanks for a spot of good sense.

Mr Little appears to assume that China will just go from strength to strengh.

Can one make that assumption? China is no monolithic power.

Let's not forget the history of the USSR.

Reginald,

In your view what should Australia be doing vis-a-vis China "not to be left out in the cold"?

It apears that given time the local Chinese elite will colonise Australia from within.......no need for costly overseas invasions.