Foy stated on other thread

"We need to promote
greater knowledge - policy makers, scholars, and the media
need to work together and disseminate China knowledge
and research. This would help understanding of the issues
and put news stories in context".

Good luck with that Foxy.

At least they will have you to read their material that I am confident will be mostly rubbish written after the horse has long bolted.

You can listen to what people like Wong, Rudd and Evans will say. And, yes the Libs have Bishop and co.

I will listen to what the US Congress and President will have to say, as the latter will drive Australia's policy response too.

A small nation, one in the Asian region, without powerful friends is really a sitting duck waiting to be taken advantage of.

And if the US commitment to Australia is not real, we will have to arm with whatever it takes.

That is the real world rather than the world that some (like you) would have us believe.

Dear Chris,

You're entitled to trust and believe in whoever
you want. I've made my position clear on what I
think. I do not hold views just for the sake of
supporting or opposing the Chinese government.
I find it is possible to have a variety of views
on this complex subject and I have no intention of
discrediting or delegitimising oppsing voices.

If you want to engage in doing that - count me out.

IMO, and my hope, it is important that the need for an aggressive cold war approach is not softened by useless talkfests.

Unless we can find someone who can make sense to a corrupt CCP hell bent on changing the world for its benefit, perhaps even the son of God could make an appearance, then I suspect a Cold War will be as good as it gets.

If Sportsbet would take bets on the Cold War, I would back the West, but it would have to be treated as a long-term investment, given that the victory will take years

one of my former university tutors, now a professor, did not have much useful to say on the ABC yesterday about China.

About the only sensible point he made was that the CCP would look elsewhere for mineral imports.

Pretty obvious really

Dear Chris,

The People's Republic of China like many other countries
is actively trying to influence public debates around
the world to its own advantage. I think it is in Australia's
national interest that we continue to discuss China's role
in the world and to debate how Australia should respond to
the challenges posed by China. This is a conversation that
should be based on facts and the merits of the argument not
in insinuation of intention.

As I mentioned earlier a couple of suggestions for improving
the quality of the debate:

1) Stop personal attacks.
2) Promote greater knowledge - scholars, policy makers,
economists, national security experts, and even the media
need to work together and disseminate China knowledge and
research. This would help improve understanding of the
issues and put news stories in context. It's in our own
interests. The US is going to look after their interests
first and foremost.

Chris,

Japanese justified its invasion of SE Asia on the grounds that it was protecting its supplies of raw materials (oil, rubber, etc. - the sorts of things it needed to run a war).

China will probably come up with the same excuse. I assume Australia will be top of the list.