Mhaze,

Yes, China may become old but it will also become rapidly more educated, relying less on comparatively backward agricultural and industrial technologies, and do away with its low-yielding (and increasingly high-cost and low-returns) industries like manufacturing - sending them overseas to Vietnam and Indonesia and eventually Africa, while its own population moves up the occupational ladder, into financial and cyber services, etc. on a massive scale.

So its military and economy will keep growing in power, even once its population stabilises in the next couple of decades, and then starts to decline. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised (if i live that long) if its military becomes one of the most high-tech and sophisticated in the world by 2030, relying on hi-tech and not on manpower. I can understand (I think), and even support, what Trump is doing, but that may simply accelerate all of these processes.

Yes, I don't understand why we aren't focussing far more on contributing to the building of India. And that will probably mean building a huge nuclear-power sector, so that all Indians have the electricity supplies and amenities that we all take for granted.

Cheers,

Joe

Still think the thread never quite hit the sweet spot, that few want any part of it and that we are a bit *she will be right mate*
China [as my words teacher says] is not the one colonised by just about every one [who by the way introduced the Opium trade there]
They are a world power , one not known for its positive human rights policy
And we are wedged between our needed trade and an ever more hostile Pacific Ocean

Dear Belly,

I totally concur with you about the threat China poses to Australia. Ever since I joined The Forum I have been raising my concerns but people are not interested to discuss it.

I would like to have been a fly on the wall when ScuMo and his mates notched out a secret deal with Jacqui Lambie this week. I know she feels the same way about China as you and I do so there's something going on behind closed doors for Lambie to back down and buddy up with ScuMo.

Gladys Liu is still suspect, with another report yesterday that she advocated for a Beijing-backed company (which means Chinese Communist Party backed) and Liberal Party donor now embroiled in a serious criminal probe.

Liu should be stood down and investigated thoroughly. Morrison's mindless support of her just because she is one of his is not acceptable.

" Donald has weakened the west"

Belly, you keep making that claim but never, NEVER, offer any proof or evidence of it. Sure there were leaders at NATO behaving like little school-girls gossiping about Trump t'other day. But that was after they'd all meekly agreed to his demands. Demands which the NATO leadership have said immeasurably strengthens NATO.

China's economy is suffering. Riots in Iran. the Norks cowed. Mexico agreeing to stop immigrant invaders. Russian economy in disarray because of the oil price. the US now energy independent and the leading energy provider on the planet.

But in your fantasies he's weakened the west. But Belly, they are just fantasies. Just because you want it to be true, doesn't make it so.

LM,

Who knows. You might be right. China might win out. But I don't think so.

Yes they have a lot of people being educated. But half the country remains ill-educated farmers or factory fodder. And the first thing the educated class learns is obedience to the party.

As we learned in every other totalitarian regime, innovation is absent. China isn't moving jobs to other countries, they are being moved because conditions in China no longer favour manufacturing because of the tariffs and government interference.

I'm old enough to remember all those other countries which the oh-so-smart elite decided were about to displace the great Satan. But each one fell by the wayside. My guess is that China will join that list. And it won't be pretty.

(Unless of course they can buy themselves a nice friendly US president eg Biden).

mhaze let me be honest you not me are part of the problem, you support a man who clearly is a fraud
By this time next year [he may not run again] the world will be flooded with insider information about him
Feel sorry for you, true, your defense of him based on what?
Tells me more about you
Interested in some shares?have a few left in the Sydney Opera house