Fifty years ago my old man said to me; "The Chinaman owes us nothing, we've never done him any favours, anything he's got, he's got himself." That was at a time when China was seen by the West as a backward country, made up of paddy fields and sampans, with too many inhabitants. Its true China has suffered a lot, wars and revolutions, famines and natural disasters, but despite the many setbacks they have managed to become the second most powerful country in the world, and with the decline of United States they most likely will be, at least economically, the most powerful. The question today is, with China's meteoric rise in the world, how should we engage with this new super power?
Another thing my old man said, having had many dealings with Chinese people; "Treat the Chinaman fair, and he's treat you fairly in return." I don't know if that's true or not.

Not

Trumpster,

Are you suggesting we sever all ties with China? Economic, trade for example, stop all Chinese tourism, students migrants etc. Maybe on official maps we could colour the land once known as "China", blue and rename it The Sea Of Australia, we could hold yacht races with your American buddies somewhere near Mongolia, what a Trumpian move that would be. Obviously from your extreme fanatical vantage point you are totally detached from reality.

Just as a side; How well did Putin play Trump for the fool. Donald made a great effort to kiss Vlad's backside. Ah!

Are you suggesting we sever all ties with China? "

no

Dear Paul,

«"Treat the Chinaman fair, and he's treat you fairly in return." I don't know if that's true or not.»

Treat everyone fairly, that is universal, but the implementation can be different in each case.

Maharishi Patanjali gave us the key how to treat others:

* Friendliness towards the happy
* Compassion for the unhappy
* Delight in the virtuous
* Disregard towards the wicked

[Yoga Sutra 1:33]

Since there are "Chinamen" of all 4 categories, each should be treated accordingly, one cannot treat "China" as one bland soup of people.

Hi Yuyutsu,

I have to agree with you on that, treat people as you find them. The Chinese do not have to be our enemy, in fact they have never done anything untoward as far as Australia is concerned. Our government is taking the right course in its dealings with our largest trading partner. The instigator of war in our region is America, since WWII they have instigated wars in Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan etc. I ask what wars have the Chinese been responsible for, none. History tells us that if you are going to die at the point of a gun, the bullet is most likely going to be fired by an American! America with its capitalist's greed are the real danger to world peace, that's obvious.