Writer
Colin Mackerras
COLIN MACKERRAS, AO, FAHA is Professor Emeritus at Griffith University, Queensland. He has visited and worked in China many times. He is a specialist on Chinese history, theatre, minority nationalities, Western images of China and Australia-China relations and has written widely on all topics. His many books include <em>Western Perspectives on the People's Republic of China, Politics, Economy and Society</em>, World Scientific Publishing, Singapore, 2015.
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Biden: Chinese among “bad folks” who do “bad things”
At a political fundraiser in Utah on 10 August, U.S. President Joe Biden described China’s economy as a “ticking time bomb”, adding that “That’s not good because when bad folks have problems, they do bad things”. It’s not only an unusually undiplomatic comment, but an unfair one that borders on the ridiculous. Continue reading »
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Does the shift in influence in Southeast Asia betoken something more global?
A Lowy Institute survey issued in April this year showed that the balance of Chinese-American influence in Southeast Asia had shifted in China’s favour over the last few years. Specifically, in overall diplomatic, defence, economic and cultural influence, the balance was 52 to 48 in China’s favour in 2018 but its lead increased to 54 Continue reading »
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Let’s not talk down to China, but remember its past civilisation
Tianxia, ‘under Heaven’, is a concept deriving from ancient China, but undergoing numerous interpretations over the ages. It refers to an idealised territorial/moral world order, equal but harmonious. Continue reading »
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The dangerous one is the U.S.
The implication of AUKUS is that China constitutes a danger to Australian security. It borders on official Australian policy that China is an aggressive power bent on domination. But the history of the People’s Republic suggests its military is for defence, not aggression and that the cases where it has used external military force are Continue reading »
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How can it be that Australia has actually gone backwards in knowledge of China?!
At exactly the same time as proclaimed “experts” from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute are telling us to prepare for war with China within three years or so, people who have done proper research on the situation with China studies are saying our record is disappointing, indeed getting worse, not better. Continue reading »
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No, it’s not a joke: China threat theory more alive than ever
The idea that China is lusting after Australian territory is part of the fervid imagination of the worst China hawks. It simply isn’t true. Continue reading »
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Historically, it’s Japan, not China, that invades other countries
With Japan just having taken over the presidency of the Group of 7 at the beginning of 2023, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has wound up a six-day visit to Britain, France, Italy, Canada and the United States. Continue reading »
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Best of 2022: Australia’s damaging and deluded retreat from Asia
Obsessed with demonising China, the Morrison government appears to exult in its destruction of one of Australia’s most valuable relationships. Continue reading »
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Australia should rid itself of the persistent fear of China
Australia must overcome Sinophobia and rejoice in a future in the Asian region. Continue reading »
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Modernity and tradition in China: The ‘tribute system’, and the absurdity of sinophobia
In many ways, the impact of modernity in China is balanced by traditional patterns. In foreign relations, the modern notion of sovereignty is central, but the traditional thinking behind what historians call “the tribute system” still explains some of what China does and its attitude to the world and its neighbourhood. Continue reading »
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In the ever deteriorating relationship with China, the mainstream media have a lot to answer for
Australia’s mainstream media seem determined to scuttle a reset of Australia-China relations. Continue reading »
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The Albanese government’s policy on China so far is beyond disappointing
Prime Minister Albanese is happy to begin his prime ministership by fawning on the U.S., Japan and NATO, while all three move further away from China as a systemic competitor, threat or worse. Continue reading »
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The Chinese seem to have given up on Morrison
We think it can’t get worse, then it does. Scott Morrison mocks the idea of talking to the new Chinese Ambassador, at least not until China agrees to have dialogue with Australian government ministers. Continue reading »
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Australia descends further into toxic relations with China despite a generous gesture by the new Ambassador
Australia descends further into toxic relations with China despite a generous gesture by the new Ambassador Continue reading »
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Any hope of an Australia-China reset in the new Tiger Year?
A new year, a new Chinese ambassador, half a century since diplomatic relations were established in 1972. Is there any hope of a reset? Continue reading »
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Australia’s damaging and deluded retreat from Asia
Obsessed with demonising China, the Morrison government appears to exult in its destruction of one of Australia’s most valuable relationships. Continue reading »
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‘Genocide’ finding over treatment of Uyghurs is overreach
The independent Uyghur tribunal has no legal standing, and its findings are not as strong as the Western media has made out. Continue reading »
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Olympic movement must not buckle to China’s critics
There have certainly been human rights abuses by Chinese authorities. But calls for a boycott of the 2022 Winter Games are misjudged. Continue reading »
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Common prosperity should be valued in China and not disparaged by critics
Recent news on China has been replete with items about “cracking down” on the rich, celebrities, the use of videogames by young people and growing inequality. Continue reading »
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How Much Does China Benefit from the Taliban Victory over the United States?
A backward impoverished country, led by a radical Islamist group, has defeated the twenty-year occupation of various Western powers led by the superpower, the United States. Taken by surprise at the speed of the Taliban victory, all these powers could do was to organize the retreat and departure of their own people and Afghan followers, Continue reading »
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As Biden inflicts a new cold war, his acolyte Morrison shows he has learned nothing from his blunders on China
Morrison’s first trip overseas since COVID has shown him as one-eyed, unfair and unwise in his attempt to push his anti-China agenda on the world stage. He has succeeded in making a bad situation even worse. His worship-America policy has helped Biden into a new cold war, this time aimed against China. Continue reading »
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China Panic: Australia’s alternative to paranoia and pandering by David Brophy
This is a truly excellent account of the “panic” surrounding Australia-China relations over the last few years, especially since 2017. It is well-researched, analytical, nuanced and very well written in a highly accessible style that is both scholarly and colloquial. One of the book’s strong features is a whole chapter covering the role China assumes Continue reading »
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Mike Pompeo and “The Xinjiang Genocide Determination”
On 19 January 2021, his last day in office, Trump’s Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, issued a “determination” that “the PRC, under the direction and control of the CCP, has committed genocide against the predominantly Muslim Uyghurs and other ethnic and religious minority groups in Xinjiang”. On taking office, Pompeo’s successor Antony Blinken immediately agreed Continue reading »
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Please, no war with China
In an unprecedented speech, a senior public servant has floated the possibility, and even necessity, of Australia’s taking part in a war against China. This is profoundly shocking and worrying and is symptomatic of a new low in our relations with China. Continue reading »
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Australia must change its mindset, especially on international affairs
Australia’s mindset remained fundamentally unchanged since the days of British imperialism. Western countries, especially the United States and Britain, are still “our” people, while Asian states, above all China, are not. The world has changed and so must we. Continue reading »
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Australia has more to lose in a human rights ‘face off’ with China
China is stepping up human rights accusations against Australia following numerous condemnations Australia has made on the same grounds. Before intensifying criticisms of China’s human rights, Australia should recognize that this can be a double-edged sword. Continue reading »
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The Year of the Ox more productive than Year of the Rat, but reset in Australia-China relations still unlikely
Oxen are more useful to humanity than rats. Here’s hoping that the year of the ox, which started on 12 February, will be better than the year of the rat. But, in terms of China’s relations with the West, and specifically Australia, it hasn’t started well. Several factors, especially differing concepts of human rights and Continue reading »
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Nine’s international editor’s demonising of a ‘genocidal China’ is downright dangerous
Using such a loaded term as “genocide” as a kind of throwaway is irresponsible, especially when it’s designed to sneer at nuance. Sneering at anybody wanting more nuance in analysing Australia-China relations is not only unwise but dangerous. Continue reading »
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Pompeo and Blinken are wrong: China is not committing genocide in Xinjiang
On his last day as US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo declared China’s human rights abuses in the Xinjiang region constituted “genocide” against ethnic Uighur Muslims. This outrageous declaration was the last of many that Pompeo has issued in a deliberate attempt to destroy relations with China on his way out of office. Continue reading »
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It’s dangerous for Australia to be so dependent on the United States
On 6 January 2021, the same day as President Donald Trump crossed the red line into incitement of insurrection in Washington through the assault on the Capitol, his Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also crossed a line in provocations against China. Continue reading »
