Whatever you are on, Communicat, I'd stop if I were you before it does you permanent damage.

>>China is an economic disaster waiting to happen.<<

China is the world's second-largest economy, after the USA

>>Many of the workers are little better than slaves.<<

There are 8% of the population below the poverty line, down from 30% 30 years ago.

http://www.exxun.com/China/e_ec.html

>>Their money is being recycled rather than made.<<

China's 2007 trade balance (exports over imports) was $200 billion. Their gold and foreign exchange reserves stand at $1.5 trillion.

>>Australia needs to find other markets - and find them fast. We have far too many eggs in the China basket<<

China is not Australia's main trading partner - they presently sit at about the same level as New Zealand, and way behind the UK and US. However, this will certainly change, as the China market continues to expand faster than the others.

>>It is time Australia started to expand horizons rather than concentrate efforts on a country that wants to dictate how we can do business and with whom.<<

I'm sorry, I must have missed something.

The only person who wants to dictate how our country does business and with whom, Communicat, appears to be you.

Pericles,you make some very good points,however China and India have made energy very expensive.It is cheap energy which underpins real living standards.Unless we find cheap alternatives,our living standards will fall while their's rises.
China also as it assumes the mantle of world economic powerhouse,needs to move away from this totalitarian mentality for the good of all humanity.Only one third of their pop are presently involved in this present industrial revolution.What can they achieve when they really hit their straps?

Arjay,
Thanks to China USA economy do not collapse! The war in Iraq costs very much, trillions of dollars, and all these money are borrowed, mainly from China!