In this time of international tension Prime Minister Morrison could invite China, the US and the other nations of the world to a disarmament conference. If there is no response it would give the PM and Australia a reputation as peacemakers. If there is a positive response something worthwhile might result.

Well, for a more peaceful Australian society, a Flat Tax would be a good start !

The PM should of learned from the National cabinet not to do deals with the devil.

Dear David F.,

An initiative for peace is certainly worth a try.
Especially if our PM was to invite not only China
but other countries in the region, including the
US.

This could be an opportunity to show China that more
is expected from a military superpower and the
world's 2nd largest economy.

China has to be made to realise that the old ways cannot
continue. This would be an opportunity to politely get
the message across.

It's been 2 decades since China joined the World Trade
Organisation yet it acts as a developing nation with
restrictions on trade and foreign investment that assumes
special treatment compared to other major economies.

Inviting China is worth a try. And our PM should not be
deterred by the first reaction. If the success or failure
of every Australian foreign policy is measured by the
shrillness of a China official every policy would end
in failure.

David,

I'm sure you mean well, but boy oh boy are you naive.

Have you not noticed that Morrison has got one thing right, and announced that our defence spending will be raised to somewhere near the level it should always have been.

Disarmament belongs to the days of hairy hippies in the sixties; and the world is a much more dangerous place than it was then. It is only because of weapons and the willingness to to use them that peace has prevailed.

Dear runner,

I would remind you of what Churchill said about the devil, "If Hitler invaded hell I would make at least a favourable reference to the devil in the House of Commons."

Dear ttbn,

You wrote, "Have you not noticed that Morrison has got one thing right, and announced that our defence spending will be raised to somewhere near the level it should always have been."

One thing we can get right is calling things what they are. We have been so talked into disregarding the functions of the military that we call it defence which is only one function. The armed forces of any country can defend, attack, occupy, threaten, help in disaster relief etc. Referring to defence spending when it is actually military spending shows that you are one of the many who are so naive that they disregard reality.