"Chinese top brass bags US influence in region", is a good article to read if you can get it online or read the print edition of today's The Australian.
The Chinese general in-question warns us about the U.S. but also Japan's past. He warns us about the dangers of a fascist Japan and how they bombed Darwin.
The general is right to warn us about totalitarianism in the Pacific Rim. However he doesn't mention the dangers of communism. A murderous Mao is not mentioned.
At all.
Something also not mentioned much in the lofty Neville Chamberlain -like goals in Australia's much hyped "Australia in the Asian century white paper".
Although to be fair to Mr. Chamberlain, I don't think he would have put his name to such a shoddy piece of unreality as Australia's new policy white paper.
The title for the above mentioned article in The Australian should be amended to read, "Communist Chinese top brass bags US influence in region".
Lots of cart-before-the-horse stuff in the blizzard of wishful thinking in the overly optimistic white paper.
I would suggest, (as I have in the past) that for Australia to be a leader in Pacific Rim policy, that it must champion free speech above all; without reservation.
Or, prepare to suffer a very bad fate in this century.
George Orwell and all that.
1 comment:
Eric; I find it quite interesting that some US origin statements regarding our region refer to 'Asia-Pacific' and others to just 'The Pacific', as for the latest from President Obama.
I think the Chinese have been quite clever in denoting territory within their perceived 'First Island Chain' as being an area of the world where they have an inherent right as an emerging power to protect their interests. Like their Asian neighbours, they are so heavily reliant on trade, it seems improbable they would ever interfere with vital sea corridors.
Their development of military capacity to operate out to what they call the 'Second Island Chain' is a clear message to America not to interfere any more in the South-East Asian area in particular. If the US (and Australia) focused primarily on the Pacific region and their territories, there would be much lessened risk of tension in the South China Sea.
The all powerful US military-industrial complex will always push to peddle its wares anywhere, regardless of political/diplomatic sensitivities. And Governor Romney seems to be trumpeting increased defence spending, which might be interpreted as spoiling for further war-fighting involvement, for economic reasons.
The US scares me somewhat more than China.
Post a Comment