Dear Graham,

I forgot to Thank You for fixing the title of this discussion
for me. Thank You.

Dear Paul,

My parents fled from Communism as you know. The Communist
Soviet Regime. Dad's brother was tortured to death as a young
student by the retreating Red Army in Lithuania in the famous
massacre in the forest of Rainiai. Dad's sister had a mental
breakdown when she had to identify the body. Dad never spoke
much about those horrific times. Our family could never ever
support any totalitarian regime. Therefore having labels
thrown at me can at times be very distressing. But I know
that people don't mean ill-will - and they would probably be
more self-controlled if we were to meet face-to-face.
That's true for me as well. We all tend to react when pushed
and I'm just as guilty of pushing as anyone else here.
Though I'm trying to be more self-controlled - but it's not
always easy.

I learn a great deal from you, from David, and certainly from
Graham, and many others.

I don't have the answer as to how to deal with China. I'll leave
that to the experts. We enough of those in government and
elsewhere, I'm sure. I'm sure that all of them will tell us to
do what is right by our nation and not to compromise on our
values and what we hold dear.

Also let us not forget that China needs us as well so she can't
sabre-rattle all that much. But perhaps I am being naive.
I probably am. I would hate to see another Tiannamen Square
event happen in Hong Kong or anywhere else for that matter.

So although we need to tread carefully. We must be prepared
for the worst case scenario.

I've spoken to a Chinese neighbour. Had afternoon tea
with her. And she told me that it's been over 200
years of Chinese migration to Australia. She belongs
to a Chinese community here in Melbourne and she stressed
how the community wants to define itself on its own terms
separately from the debates over the influence of the CCP.

She also reminded me that not everyone who looks Chinese
is a recent or new arrival.

Just like not all white people are the same.

Foxy, I believe your poll information is flawed.
Trust in China according to Lowy institute is just 23%.

http://www.news.com.au/world/australias-trust-in-china-has-plummeted-according-to-a-new-lowy-institute-poll/news-story/88c72ef65868db6be97f57ede80fda80

"Trust in China and its President Xi Jinping among Australians has fallen dramatically in recent years, a new poll has found.

Only 23 per cent of Australians trust China to act responsibly in the world, a dramatic fall from 52 per cent just two years ago, according to The Lowy Institute’s annual poll.

The survey, which gauges Australians’ attitudes towards a series of global issues, took the views of 2448 people in late March."

I noticed that ttbn recommeded some books in his post
on China.

I'd like to add my list as recommendations for those
interested in the subject of China and life under the
regime told by people who'd lived through the experience:

1) "Mao's Last Dancer", by Li Cunxin.

2) " One Bright Moon", by Andrew Kwong.

3) " Wild Swans" , three generations of women. by Jung Chang.

All are very page-turning books. Poignant and moving.
Excellent reads.

Josephus,

Thanks for that piece of information.

I knew there was something wrong with Foxy's claim that:

"77%, see China as more of an economic partner to Australia than a military threat (15%), and that about an equal number (73%) want Australia to develop closer relations with China as it grows in influence."

Turns out to be the total opposite of what Foxy is telling us and I think Foxy has a bit of soul searching to do.

I'm not beyond making mistakes but I can claim to be a totally honest person. (In fact I might just be the most honest person in the world.)

Dear Josephus,

If you read my post on page one - I clearly stated
that the information I gave came from the Lowy Institute
poll that was released yesterday, Sunday 5th July 2020.
Your information is earlier. I believe you said - late
March. So mine would appear to be more current.

Anyway, you can check the link given below. I am not
in the habit of making things up.

Mr O,

It wasn't my claim - but the Lowy Institute's poll,
as given on the web. The information is more current than
that of Josephus.

Perhaps you're the one that needs to do some soul
searching.

http://www.lowyinstitute.org/australians-china-less-military-threat-too-much-investment-residential-real-estate