I just found this news item which explains why the Commonwealth is no longer anxious for the Chinese to have control over companies in Australia.

http://www.msn.com/en-au/money/markets/why-did-the-government-block-the-china-led-probuild-sale-what-does-this-mean-for-mergers-and-acquisitions/ar-BB1cJgQo

It's all about national security. Which to me says that the Commonwealth is now apprehensive about the presence of the Chinese in Australia and the extent to which the Chinese can access sensitive sites.

Of course The Forum's pro-China camp like Foul-Mouth aka Guangzhou Joe, Foxy aka the Beijing Butterfly and david f all will say that this is just another racist attack on the Chinese and that the Chinese have just as much right to be here as the rest of us.

Myself, I say it's all too late because the enemy is already inside the gate.

Hi Yuyutsu,

You describe the ANZAUS TREATY as an insurance policy, I would describe it as a dog collar and lead, so we are miles apart on its description. It's a strange insurance policy that states the insurer will only "consult" with the insured should his house burn down, it's just as strange that the insurer requires the insured to pop around h and cut his grass once a month for nothing in return.

Trying to build our own "battleship" to oppose China is ridiculous, they will have 10 "battleships" maybe a 100 to our one, so we may as well have none. Now, there is something Australia can do to subdue Chinese expansion in one regard. That is for Australia and New Zealand as the two developed nations in the South-West Pacific region to direct more aid to island nations (per capita the most aid dependent region on Earth). At the moment China is making great advances with island nations by the use of aid programs. I can tell you, Chinese aid is most welcome in countries like Fiji and elsewhere, where aid is desperately needed. The Chinese are doing a terrific job in Fiji of using aid to ingratiate themselves with the Fijians. If China was wanting to build military bases in these countries in return for aid, I can't see them saying no, not when there is no alternative.

Hi Paul,

You're right about aiding Pacific nations, but Australia will have a huge job to do that effectively and in a way which counters Chinese efforts.

There are more than twenty independent central and south Pacific nations, each of which could furnish attractive naval and air bases for the Chinese military machine for comparatively little outlay.

But yes, Australia has to increase its aid budget massively if only to ultimately protect its borders.

Joe

Foul-Mouth,

Too late.

The Chinese have got us by the short and curlies and it's now time to put Mr Opinion's 10 point plan to placate the Chinese into action.

Better late than never is what they're now saying in Beijing.

I see you are now using 'Chinese' as in the Chinese nation-state viz PRC. Good boy! You deserve to get a gold stamp in your homework book.

Dear Paul,

Every idea is welcome.
If regional aid works then it is a good tactic to adopt for our quiver.
But on its own, it is just one tactic, not a complete strategy.

"Insurance" is only an imperfect analogy, but so is "dog collar".
Collars are unpleasant, I agree, but dogs cannot escape by removing their own collar while we can remove our collar at any time we choose. We will not be punished if we do, but well, we would then remain without protection. I would like us to have our own nuclear and other non-conventional weapons to deter China, but this takes time. Once we do, I will certainly break that collar.

What do you think about the scorched-earth strategy that I proposed?
Until we have our own nukes to deter China and given that we cannot withstand the Chinese army on our own, we could still mine Australia with dirty bombs and the like, so that if it is invaded then this continent would become uninhabitable and China will find no joy in holding it.

Yuyutsu,
I'm not in agreement in placing mines through the place in the case of an invasion. We have Chinese in every town in Australia, loyal Australians but are they also supporters of the Homeland. It would seem so by their exporting of special items to the homeland. We can accommodate the people but not the communist ideology, it is socially ruinous; when you see what is happening Hong Kong. They cannot accept One Country Two economic systems with freedom of ideas.