Dear Aidan,

Anybody can say they have knowledge on a particular subject. Proving it is a different matter. If someone tells me that they are knowledgeable in a subject like history, archaeology, anthropology, sociology, philosophy, etc, etc, then I expect that they have at least a bachelors degree in that subject or have done it as a sufficient part of that degree.

Watching a docufilm or reading a book from a local library on a subject does not constitute being knowledgeable on a subject. For example, I have separate degrees in history, anthropology and sociology therefore I consider myself to be knowledgeable on those subjects. I have read books on geology, biology, cosmology and psychology but I do not consider myself to be knowledgeable on those subjects.

Apart from your engineering degree what other degrees do you have? What branch of engineering is your degree in?

Hi Aidan,

Yes, many very distinct ethnic groups 'look' Chinese. I was in a photocopy room at a uni once and found that the pretty young girl who had just finished copying (I was in no hurry) had left her ID papers in the photocopier: she was from Kazakhstan. I was chatting on a bus once with another pretty girl who turned out to be Mongolian.

There are far more Koreans and Japanese in Australia than most people realise - not huge numbers, but more than they may think - mostly students and tourists. What you might call the East Asian population is extremely varied, Vietnamese, Filipino, Taiwanese, Burmese, Thai, Indonesian as well.

Even the 'Chinese' come from different regions, not to mention different overseas countries like Malaya or Singapore, and may speak quite different languages from each other, and begrudgingly learn the dominant Beijing dialect.

The world is more like a kaleidoscope than a single picture :)

Joe

Hi folks, just off the web, this article gives a good synopsis of the various players in the SCS dispute. Note how China is ramping up its militarisation of the region.

https://www.lawfareblog.com/water-wars-south-china-sea-beijing-faces-twin-threats-new-us-military-presence-and-pushback-old

Reading between the lines in the paragraph re Australia I get the impression that Turnbull has become committed to supporting the Chinese. I think this has got the US very worried about supporting Australia. I'm guessing that they are not going to forgive the LNP stalwarts for placing Port Darwin into the hands of the Chinese. I think they see it as a form of alliance building between Australia and China.

I guess we can't blame Turnbull completely for siding with the Chinese. Not supporting the Chinese would probably result in a collapse of the Australian economy. Also aggravating the Chinese voters in Australia would probably result in the LNP coalition losing government at the next federal election.

Hi Mr Opinion,

And now Malaysia:

http://www.news.com.au/world/beijings-fishing-fleet-asserts-claim-to-contested-south-china-sea/news-story/4ed6b3c0a5a1112370931ac684d6cc18

"About 100 Chinese-registered boats have been detected encroaching in Malaysia’s waters in the disputed South China Sea, Malaysia’s state news agency has reported.

"The reported encroachment on Thursday is the latest action by Chinese vessels to raise concern in Southeast Asia, where four countries object to China’s claim to virtually the whole of the South China Sea.

"Malaysia’s national security minister Shahidan Kassim said assets from the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and the navy have been sent to the area near the Luconia Shoals to monitor the situation ..... "

The Luconia Shoals are 100-200km off the N-E coast of Sarawak, Eastern Malaysia. The Chinese claim them as part of their territory, 2000 km from China. 100 Chinese 'fishing vessels' ? 100 ? What, inadvertently ? I wonder how John Bilger would explain this away: how might this be the fault of the US ? Hmmmm .......

So, who's next ? Islands and shoals in the Gulf of Thailand ? Islands and shoals on the eastern side of the Philippines ? Because some flea-bitten Chinese ship sailed there once, following the sailing advice of long-experienced traders from across the region from Japan to India ?

Joe

Dear Mr Opinion,

"Anybody can say they have knowledge on a particular subject. Proving it is a different matter."
That much is true. But whether they actually are knowledgeable on it depends not on what they say nor on what they can prove, but on what they have learned.

"If someone tells me that they are knowledgeable in a subject like history, archaeology, anthropology, sociology, philosophy, etc, etc, then I expect that they have at least a bachelors degree in that subject or have done it as a sufficient part of that degree."
Then your expectations will and should be confounded!

"Watching a docufilm or reading a book from a local library on a subject does not constitute being knowledgeable on a subject."
I concur; a single source is rarely if ever sufficient.

"For example, I have separate degrees in history, anthropology and sociology therefore I consider myself to be knowledgeable on those subjects."
Yet there is no evidence of this from the crap you usually post.

"Apart from your engineering degree what other degrees do you have?"
None of my non-engineering qualifications are at degree level.

"What branch of engineering is your degree in?"
Civil. Specializing in transport engineering.

"I guess we can't blame Turnbull completely for siding with the Chinese."
True, for the simple reason that he hasn't!

"Not supporting the Chinese would probably result in a collapse of the Australian economy."
We should never blame China for our own government's economic incompetence.

"Also aggravating the Chinese voters in Australia would probably result in the LNP coalition losing government at the next federal election."
What about all those Indonesian, Malay, Vietnamese, Filipino, Japanese and Taiwanese voters?

Dear Aidan,

In response to your last post, you don't show the attributes of a learned person.

Why would I lie about having several Arts degrees? Actually I'm in the process of applying to do another Arts degree. That's what I am outside of working as an engineer.

It must be so disappointing for you being only capable of getting through an engineering degree. I suppose if you're happy to be stuck in a second rate profession for your entire life then so be it. It was obvious to me from the start that you don't hold a degree in anything outside of engineering.

Time will tell about who is right when it comes to predicting Australia's position wrt SCS situation. If I was a betting man I definitely wouldn't be following the advice of a civil engineer. PS Did you know that a civil engineer is one of my favourite oxymorons.

How long have you known about the Taiwanese not being Chinese? Have you told anybody else? I'll keep your secret safe providing you continue to tell everyone there are no Chinese in Taiwan.