Yes we benefit from trading with China and without that trade?
But at what cost?
The strange saga of industrial spying, the dreadful support for the army junta in what we once called Burma.
China has a lot to learn about the west, and we do about China.
The silly attempts to stop the Melbourne film festival bringing an invited guest, it is a long list.
But in looking at that list we should not ignore every emerging trading giant in the world wrote its own rules on the way up America and England included.
China has come a long way, lets hope it will come much further but we will not be bored watching that emerging giant.

Dear Belly,

I've just had the frustrating experience of
trying to buy an Australian-made teddy bear
for my nephew and his wife who've had an
addition to their family (a baby girl).
I went to all sorts of department stores,
shops, even boutiques that specialised in teddies.
All the bears were made in China. As a matter of
fact - all children's "soft-toys," are now made in
China - as are quilts, blankets, et cetera.

Gone are the days of "Australian made," products
it seems. A bit sad really. I know, China is
a trading partner - but what's happened to
our "Australian- made," products? Even a souvenir -
item - like a wombat - I almost bought recently
(to send overseas) was made in (you guessed it) -
China! All a bit much - don't you think?

Anyway, on the other side of the coin - we recently
attended a performance of the National Ballet Company
of China, "Raise The Red Lantern," at the State Theatre
here in Melbourne. My husband gave this evening treat
to me as part of a Birthday present. (He doesn't much
care for ballet). What I hadn't realized was that the
Ballet was going to be combined with the Bejing Opera.
And although I don't mind the "cat wailing," as he calls
it, I glanced at him during the performance and he wore
the look that said, "kill me now!." It was a memorable
evening in more ways than one.

The performance was indeed memorable - the sets, costumes,
colour, and dance- was spectacular - but not to everyone's
taste obviously - as the applause was "polite," and somewhat
subdued. Perhaps if they would have performed, a more
traditional ballet like, "Swan Lake," it would have gone
over better. But then it would not have been Chinese!

We have a lot to learn about each other - that's for sure.
Projects like the ballet is a step in the right direction.
For both our countries

I recently participated in a conference looking at the inclusion of Asian studies across the curriculum in high schools. I would love to be able to incorporate Asia - and the rest of the world - in more than the tokenistic way in which it is studied at this point in time. While I was at the conference, though, I got to thinking. Are teachers in China doing the same thing? Are they trying to understand the west? Sure, they have our cultural 'icons' (McDonald's, Coca-Cola, western or western-styled music, etc), but has this simply perpetuated a stereotype rather than a real understanding?

My experience of Asia has been one of disdain. Not my disdain for Asia - I actually quite like the place - but the disdain for westerners experienced in many parts of the continent. To many, we are simply the greedy, selfish, lazy and dishonest people whose unethical behaviour has seen us dominate the world (until now). Our attitude towards Asia is a little different - we commonly view their governments as evil and oppressive regimes, while feeling sorry for the people. But do the people want our sympathy? I remember watching a documentary on the 'economic miracle' in which people from several countries suggested that they were happy to sacrifice some of their freedom for the sake of prosperity.

I think both posters before me have hit the nail on the head - we all have a lot to learn about each other.

This thread is a challenge to me, it also is a challenge to my fellow posters.
Can we look at China from all sides?
Without getting the usual dead end thread stoppers involved?
We, surely most of us, are concerned about Chinas intervention in other country's, its blind support for those products of unwed parents in Burma.
So very many things worry me.
The imprisoning of an Australian of Chinese origin, to me looks like black mail nothing less.
But we, the west imported drugs to China,forced it on them, for trade, we have acted no differently than them.
I foxy have Chinese cloths kitchen ware, a great deal of it.
I shudder at the loss of manufacturing in our country, proud of a two union front to save it.
But long ago understood few support Aussie made I do, but not at twice or three times the price.
Hopefully Romany, sorry if I miss spelled it, even some of her students can tell us about China from within that country, given the rudeness of some it may be unwise.
We must not let xenophobia, or indeed blindness shape our thoughts but yes I have concerns.
I however remember Chile those leaders and there family's crowded into a sports stadium and murdered with American guns, CIA guns maybe held by CIA members?
The horrible murders in Chinas square can never be forgiven or forgotten, but can we remember those dead in south America too?

It amazes me that people assume the Stern Hu case must be dodgy. I'm guessing we think that because their way of handling criminal cases is different to ours, it must be wrong and open to abuse every step of the way.

Heaven forbid, the man might actually be guilty! We seem so keen to denigrate the Chinese judiciary and dismiss it as corrupt, opaque and illogical, the we absolutely refuse to believe that one of our own could actually have indulged in the bad behaviour he is accused of. No, much easier to believe that it's a conspiracy, an act of revenge.

As for China politics-wise, we are going to see a lot of bullying from them in the future. The massive Chinese student rally in Canberra when the Olympic torch visited last year, the pressure on the Melbourne film festival and the National Press Club over the Uighur speaker Ms. Kadeer, the usual threats every time the Dalai Lama visits - these are just the tip of the iceberg.

We shouldn't fall for bullying tactics,
and definitely should maintain our stance
on pushing the human rights issues. That's
a given. But we must also continue to 'talk,'
to each other. It would be to both our detrements
to do otherwise.