Anthony Pun

Dr Anthony Pun OAM, is the National President of the Chinese Community Council of Australia (CCCA);

Anthony's recent articles

Australia is being goaded into war with China

Australia is being goaded into war with China

John Menadues article in Pearls and Irritation about Australia being goaded into war with China is a must read for those Australians who desire to live in harmony and leave a legacy for our descendants to live in this lucky country of ours, in peace and prosperity with our neighbours in the Asia Pacific region.

We are being led to war with China to satisfy American hegemonic interests

We are being led to war with China to satisfy American hegemonic interests

As the American Empire is attempting to open up another war front with China and dragging us into it, the Doomsday clock is now 10 seconds to midnight. Can we resist?

Discarding article 9 of the Japanese constitution is not inducive to peace in Asia Pacific

Discarding article 9 of the Japanese constitution is not inducive to peace in Asia Pacific

Those service personnel who died in WWII fighting against the Japanese would turn in their grave if they knew that their descendants were rearming Japan.There is no reason for any accelerated arm race or nuclear proliferation in the East Pacific. Why are we creating one?

Chinese Australians still have hopes for the Federal Labor Albanese Government

Chinese Australians still have hopes for the Federal Labor Albanese Government

The Government needs to keep in mind that Labor won office significantly due to the 'Chinese Australian' vote in 5 to 6 key electorates. The governments inaction on China could see those ALP votes disappear.

Do I hear the sound of distant drums calling to war over Taiwan?

Since the pivot to Asia initiated by President Obama, President Trump had put into action a trade war and starting the Cold War 2.In the trade war with China most pundits would agree that the US has lost.Now, a third attempt by President Biden with the dangerous introduction of Taiwan into the picture took place.Is war imminent?

Joseph McCarthy smiled in his grave

McCarthyism was re-incarnated when Senator Eric Abetz asked three young Chinese Australians to unequivocally condemn the Chinese Communist Party. Congratulations to Chiu, Jiang and Chau for having the courage to defend themselves when bullied.

Olive branches dampens the sound of distant war drums

With the hospitalization of Trump, the world went into temporary recess from the Cold War and China sends an olive branch to Australia to dampen the sound of distant war drums. As the SCMP suggests, there is still hope for peace and mutual understanding.

The scary picture of a failed Australia-China trade relations ?

The mainstream newspapers in Australia do not shed much light about the real situation of the Cold trade war between Australia and China. If we look hard enough, we may find factual reporting about this subject in an English language published off-shore, in Hong Kong.

The world cannot afford a war between US and China

It is so obvious that the world cannot afford a war between US and China. We have a very serious COVID pandemic with us. We have to try to feed the 7-8 billions global citizens around the world affected by this pandemic and keep them safe from illnesses and dying. We could be facing even a greater economic depression of 1930s in coming months and years.

A silent cry of Chinese Australians in this difficult period

As the Australia-China relations deteriorate further, we are trying to highlight our government focus to maintain and protect our trade relations for the sole national interest of sustaining our economic, providing jobs and peaceful co-existence for all nations in the Asia Pacific.

Don't be duped by biased media, reporters and political commentators

We argue for a more independent Australian foreign policy as former Prime Ministers Gough Whitlam, Malcolm Fraser, Bob Hawke, Paul Keating andKevin Rudd have advocated.

Cambodia a breakout from US encirclement

The encirclement of China with US and allies bases, has its roots in preventing the spread of Communism in SE Asia after WW2. At the height of the Cold War the host countries had no objections as it provided protection and income. With the emergence of China as an economic power, the bases are now used to contain China for challenging US hegemony. This time, the pundits say, US is not going to win.

Let Hong Kong people decide their own fate with China

If we want to see Hong Kong survive the One Country Two System and retain its form of democracy, then we must not interfere with their process. External influence and funding have been reported but these activities only serve to aggravate the crisis to a point of no return where the PLA may appear in the streets of Hong Kong to restore law and order. In the end game, Hong Kong people lose the One Country Two Systems.

ANTHONY PUN: The Battle of Huawei escalates with new fronts opening.

President Trump has upped the ante on the US-China trade war by opening several new fronts in the Battle of Huawei. These fronts are designed to kill Huawei off by banning Tech companies in supplying essential chip hardware. This has caused cancelling of software licences (Google Android) and non-purchase of Huawei equipment. With these new attacks, can Huawei survive? A view from the Chinese media seldom seen in the West is shown here and, in their view, Huawei will survive.

ANTHONY PUN. Metamorphosis of the Immigration Department to a fatal progeny?

This article relies on the materials provided by two distinguished former Deputy Secretaries of the Immigration Department in their building of the peoples immigration department and their disappointment over the last two decades. As an active community advocate on immigration matters, I also have been involved with the department over a period of 40 years. I too, shared their achievements and current disappointment. The merger of Immigration and Customs into DIBP is a mismatch and the incoming government should recast the foundations to a department to be more sensitive to peoples needs.

ANTHONY PUN: Chinese Australian Community Tribute to the late Hon Bob Hawke, AC.

On 16 May 2019, the nation mourns the loss of a great Prime Minister the Hon Bob Hawk, AC. The Chinese Australian community also felt the sad loss of a great humanitarian benefactor who almost single handedly, made a decision to allow 42,000 Chinese students to remain in Australia, despite stiff opposition from his colleagues. Beneficiaries of his legacy and magnanimous gesture should bow their head in silence for a minute to pay respect to the great Australian statesman and Prime Minister, Bob Hawke.

ANTHONY PUN. Australia at the crossroads of economic survival.

Recent articles in the South China Morning Post and Pearls and Irritations are wake-up calls for Australians in the pilot seat for the next five years driving Australian foreign relations and trade. Some pundits are pessimistic about a quick turn-around for Australia to mend its Australia-China friendship as events have gone past the point of no return, whilst others like me would still have an optimistic outlook for a return to normal foreign and trade relations with China if a sincere and genuine approach to repairing relations were put into place. If nothing is done, our economy may take a...

ANTHONY PUN. Understanding the battle for telecommunications supremacy.

Sam Byfords article, on the Huawei chairman accusing American critics of hypocrisy over NSA hacks, represents the current battlefront in the US-China trade war over telecommunications (telecoms) and its battle plan objective. This article takes a deeper dive into the matter in order to understand the nature of this Huawei battle for telecoms supremacy, as part of the US-China trade war and the reaction of US allies to this battle.

ANTHONY PUN. A response from the Chinese Community Council of Australia (CCCA)

The Chinese Australian community warmly thanks Prof Bob Carr for speaking out for the Chinese Australians and giving a detailed analysis of China panic over a period of more than 2 years. Prof Carrs suggestion of a community response based on the Jewish model is a great suggestion and plans can be made to initiate the implementation. However, the successful implementation would depend on the unity of the 1.2 million Chinese Australian diaspora.

ANTHONY PUN. The battle for the Chinese Australian vote.

Important lessons learned in the last state elections in Victoria and NSW point to the ubiquitous use of social media WeChat in influencing voters in the Chinese Australian community and the realisation that their votes could be pivotal in changing governments. The current battle for the Chinese Australian vote is on!

ANTHONY PUN. A response to Gareth Evan's article on the bamboo ceiling.

Our former foreign minster, the Hon Gareth Evans, has written an excellent piece about the bamboo curtain. His thesis is focused on institutional covert and overt discriminatory practices. To be fair, the fault is not entirely due to discrimination but also the psyche and cultural conditioning of Chinese Australians. The way forward is to create increased awareness of the short-comings of Chinese Australians, an opportunity to present Chinese Australian community views and a change of cultural thinking in taking up positions of power whether it is community, business, or political governance.

ANTHONY PUN. Chinese Australian votes and the 2019 NSW State Election

This article promotes the theory that there is an effective Chinese Australian vote that can change political outcome of a seat if the ingredients viz. issues affecting Chinese Australians, high percentage of Chinese Australian voters and a marginal seat. This observation is similar to the ethnic votes under John Howard administration. The conclusion is drawn from observation of events leading to the election, the election result, the use of social medial as a strategic weapon.

ANTHONY PUN. Parallels in the US-Japan (1980s) and current US-China trade wars.

The US-Japan trade war of the 1980s has many similarities to the current US-China trade war despite their occurrence 30 years apart. The trigger for the conflicts is the same, i.e. a rival challenging the US hegemony in economic power.

ANTHONY PUN. Multiculturalism Part 3 - Contemporary support of multiculturalism.

Former PM Turnbull is a strong advocate of multiculturalism, but his successor PM Morrison appears to waver on his commitment to multiculturalism as shown by the inconsistency of his words on the subject. We prefer a PM with a consistent view, whether it is supportive or not; at least we could learn how to have a meaningful dialogue with him or persuade him to our views. The Multicultural Communities Council of NSW (MCCNSW) has examined the public reports on the subject in the media and determined that a rise in opposition to multiculturalism has increased and can be attributed to...

ANTHONY PUN. A relapse of China panic.

Three media reports in the Sydney Morning Herald could be seen as a Relapse of the China Panic since it went into remission last December. It came in a period where Chinese Australians celebrate the Lunar New Year and indeed some would say what a bloody new year present (a pun Red packets are gifts during the festive period). The Chinese Australian community reacted to these publications and the SMH was kind enough to publish them. On political donations, Australians will have the final say whether to accept all donations with conditions or ban them all together.

ANTHONY PUN. The arrest of Huawei CFO Sabrina Meng in Canada.

The arrest of Meng Wanzhou (Sabrina), the CFO of Huawei, has sent shock waves in China. It would appear that the US-China Trade Cold War has escalated to new level of conflict which involves the arresting of personnel. Canada is the accessory to the kidnapping of Meng on behalf of her American master by choosing on which side the bread is buttered. Trudeaus action has put the China Panic into Canada and questions whether this short term gain is more attractive than the long term loss of service revenue with China. A lateral plan to escape this uncertain diplomatic dilemma...

ANTHONY PUN. A winter of China panic followed by a spring thawing of Australia-China relations - a view from the Chinese Australian community.

A chronological sequence of the post-winter China panic with the spring thawing of Australia-China relations is presented. Media reports showed a definite attempt to improve Australia-China relations with commitments by PM Morrison, Foreign Minister Marise Payne and former PM Howard. How well can Australia play in the game in making friends with two countries which are currently fighting a trade Cold War and with the US having ambitions to contain China? The Chinese Australian community welcomes the thaw but would like to see the government consult the community on these sensitive international matters as well as taking positive steps to...

ANTHONY PUN. Advances in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine.

From a rubber band lizard tail shooter to a molecular biologist and later medical scientist, it took a life time to understand why the lizard loses its tail and is able to regenerate it completely. The advancement of molecule biology in science and medicine has created sophisticated tools for looking into the stimulation and mechanism of tissue repair and led to the introduction of the field of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine. A current example of fingertip regeneration is presented.

ANTHONY PUN. Genetic manipulation of Human Embryo must be guided by proper moral and ethical research protocols.

A recent story emerged at the International Summit on Human Genome Editing in Hong Kong about an experiment in off-target gene editing of two human embryos in an attempt to render the resultant twin babies resistant to HIV infection. The father is HIV positive whist the mother is negative. This experiment attracted severe criticism for being illegal, reckless and lack of moral and ethical considerations by worldwide researchers, Chinese medical science researches and the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology. The Chinese reaction should be applauded.

ANTHONY PUN. A response to Kim Wingerei -. Its Time for Ethical Politics

Lord Actons Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely is still valid today. Man is born innocent and in his acquisition of power, goes astray when unguided by morals and ethical principles. True wisdom is the ability to exercise power with moral and ethical dignity. If these abilities are lost, the people need re-education in moral and ethical philosophy.

ANTHONY PUN: A Response to Prof John Fitzgerald article How Bob Carr became Chinas Pawn.

Political debate on foreign policy between Australia-China in conjunction with Australia-US relations is an important issue for the 1.2 million Chinese Australian community. It is also an important issue for Australia as this will dictate our future prosperity and leadership role in the Asia Pacific. It should not be trivialised by name calling and political posturing. In the current vernacular, we should put Australia First.

Bullying in the public health system

The formation of the Australian Health Reform Association (AHReform) is triggered by the need to have a community organisation with members from all healthcare professions to help create a safer working environment for all healthcare professionals so that they can provide the highest standard of care for healthcare consumers. This article introduces the subject of medical bullying which is widespread in Australia and AHReforms proposal on how to effectively reform the healthcare system to reduce the incidence of depression and suicides among medical practitioners.

ANTHONY PUN: A response to PM Morrison's speech in Hurstville concerning Australia/China relations.

The Chinese Community Council of Australia welcomes PM Morrisons olive branch on community relations and the China-Australia relations at face value and with goodwill. However, we reserve judgement pending resolution of issues with the Chinese Australian community.

ANTHONY PUN. History of Multiculturalism: Part 2- A decline in support of Multiculturalism from the Howard to the Rudd-Gillard Administrations.

The racial discrimination legislations flourished under Multicultural with NSW leading the pact. A crack in Multiculturalism support emerged during the Howard Administration with the rise of Pauline Hanson and her racial politics. It was the ethnic vote that saved the day and Immigration Minister Phillip Ruddock worked to recapture the votes. Multiculturalism continued under the Rudd-Gillard Administration its policy became controversial when the composition of appointees to the Australian Multicultural Council was question by the multicultural communities. The future Multiculturalism is briefly discussed.

ANTHONY PUN. History of multiculturalism: Part 1 - Early development - Chinese Australian community involvement and Chinese students.

Early development of multiculturalism under PM Gough Whitlam and Immigration Minister Al Grassby and its passage through to the Hawke-Keating government; community organisations played an important role in convincing the Hawke government to grant residency to 42,300 Chinese students.

ANTHONY PUN: The aftermath of the China Panic & its influence on a General Election

The China Panic has an unintended consequence of shaping the minds of the Chinese Australians and taught them how to be a strategic player in Australian politics. The monopoly held by the Milking Cows, and Uncle Toms in delivering votes to a political party would soon be over and the community will insist on being consulted. There are several policies in the last 2 years which are unpopular with the Chinese Australian community and together with the China Panic, have filtered through social media to an extend that it can influence votes. Despite a change of leadership, PM Morrison has...

ANTHONY PUN. How do the Chinese settlers in Australia feel regarding the deepening dispute between China and Australia?

The China Panic, a phrase coined by Professor Bob Carr, ex-Australian Foreign Minister and Director of Australian China Relations Institute (ACRI), started in December 2016 when the media and the Turnbull government started to bash China starting with a media blitz about Chinese political donations to political parties and alleging breach of parliamentary sovereignty and followed by proposed legislation, the Foreign Interference Bills, which was subsequently passed in the Federal Parliament. These events generated xenophobic overtones against the Chinese Australians. The government seems to change direction when PM Turnbull delivered a conciliatory speech at the University of New South Wales...

ANTHONY PUN. The Battle for Indo-Pacific.

China is surrounded by at least 16 countries, some with common borders and territorial disputes with her. Japanese PMs proposal in 2005 to form a Quad alliance (US, Australia, India and Japan) is seen by China as the introduction of Cold War in the Asia Pacific. Former Australian Ambassador to China, Geoff Raby provides a deep insight why Australia should not be a part of it. The analysis of individual countries surrounding China revealed that the BRI initiatives are making an impact on the recipient countries and they are more likely to be neutral or distance themselves from the Quad....

ANTHONY PUN. The Battle for the South Pacific.

The Battle for the South Pacific is on!China is already in Australias backyard, the South Pacific, wooing and cultivating friends with soft power. As part of China BRI initiative, Chinese investment with the South Pacific nations totalled US 1.78 billion outstripping Australias AUD137M for subsea internet cable connecting Australia-PNG-Solomon Islands. The current scorecard is China 10 nations and Australia 2 nations. Is Australias or New Zealands security being threatened? Would the formation of a South Pacific block a risky option for Australia or New Zealand economic health? Or if you cant beat them, join them?

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