China
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Hong Kong and Taiwan: seeking perspectives
My intention here is to provide some information on Hong Kong and Taiwan, having regard to media failure and the general drought of information in Australia. Policy and public sentiment is being driven by passions and our tendency to prefer conflictual in news and argument. Continue reading »
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Xi Jinping’s CPC centenary speech: Is there cause for alarm?
A speech to commemorate 100 years of the Communist Party of China by its leader Xi Jinping prompted another flurry of anxiety in the Australian media over the ‘China threat’. But former diplomat Colin Heseltine argues Xi’s speech was aimed at a domestic audience and departed little from standard lines on national security issues. Continue reading »
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Alex Lo-How ‘Five Eyes’ allies eat Australia’s lunch over China trade
The US and Canada have been more than happy to substitute supplies from Down Under to China with their own while denouncing Beijing’s ‘economic coercion’ Continue reading »
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Grenville Cross-Rule of law in HongKong- Protecting criminal justice operatives from violence.
When the Hong Kong protest movement and its armed wing launched their insurrection in 2019, they realized that to make headway they had to target people involved in upholding criminal justice. From the outset, they systematically attacked the police, with petrol bombs, bricks and improvised weaponry, and then set about terrorizing their families. They doxxed Continue reading »
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The axis of evil shaping our minds, on China and more
If ever there is now an axis of evil it is surely the uncoordinated journey of fellow travellers ASPI, now reportedly replacing DFAT as strategic advisor to government; Adrian Zenz, conservative Catholic inventor of Xinjiang genocide, who wants to see the overthrow of the government of China, and the ABC team led by Stan Grant, Continue reading »
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China Series: Where To From Here? (A repost from 23.12.2019)
A SERIES of posts on this blog in the last two weeks have highlighted aspects of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) that are often overlooked in discussion of the bilateral relationship. We have to get used to living with the Chinese elephant in our neighbourhood. Continue reading »
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The Chinese Communist Party: does it stay or does it go?
Contemporary China cannot be comprehended without understanding the role of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). With 85 million members it represents a tiny share of the total population (1.4 billion) but is the world’s largest political party. Its organisation, structure and internal discipline ensure it is the spinal cord of governance of the People’s Republic Continue reading »
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Hong Kong’s stability is being restored.
The National Security Law for Hong Kong has had a profound impact since its enactment on June 30, 2020, ending the era of lawlessness, bringing back peace and stability. A city famed for its decency and tolerance has reasserted its values and triumphed over those who wished it ill. Continue reading »
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Grenville Cross-Closure of Apple Daily in Hong Kong and the political obsessions of one man .
It is always sad when people lose their jobs, and there is sympathy for the Apple Daily employees now facing redundancy. They include journalists from, for example, the entertainment, finance and sports desks, as well as engineers, printers and delivery workers. They have all fallen victim to the political obsessions of one man, the newspaper’s Continue reading »
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A sinking DFAT has given policy making over to ASPI
Despite the line being spun by recently retired Secretary, Frances Adamson, AC, DFAT appears to be in the process of being scuttled by ASPI. Continue reading »
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How many are fleeing Hong Kong?
Google, “fleeing Hong Kong”, today, and over 100 headlines immediately present themselves. Most speak of deep fear and plans to escape. Continue reading »
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China seeks client states not ideological conquests
Australia came away from the G7 meeting in Cornwall comforted by the support of others. But joint statements tend elegantly to fudge differences and do not absolve us from reaching our own conclusions and crafting our own strategies. Continue reading »
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Here’s what will happen in Hong Kong in 2047
It is becoming increasingly clear what will happen to Hong Kong’s economic and legal foundations at midnight on June 30th, 2047, when the transition period to being part of China comes to an end. Nothing. Continue reading »
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Hong Kong, Apple Daily and freedom of the press
The arrest of the chief editor and chief executive of Hong Kong’s Apple Daily newspaper signals the end to Hong Kong’s free press, according to Western press reports like Austin Ramzy and Tiffany May’s article in the New York Times of 16 June. It is taken as an indication of Beijing’s growing stranglehold over Hong Continue reading »
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Western media’s campaign to ignore the obvious
I’m not alone, there are hundreds, if not thousands of people like me posting, blogging and vlogging positively about China, many are Chinese citizens, many are not, one common factor with all of these people is that they are either ignored by Western media, or if they are considered at all, they are ridiculed and Continue reading »
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How to engage with China
The Chinese government’s overriding goals are unity, stability, security, and prosperity. They arose from its “century of humiliation” (1839-1949) when it underwent invasion, addiction, civil war, and destitution. The Great Leap Forward campaign (1958-62) triggered famine and the Red Guard riots (1966-67) destroyed heritage and education. All post-Mao governments have brutally cracked down on internal Continue reading »
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Tiananmen Square “Massacre” is a difficult story to handle
The event, when it occurred on 4 June,1989, aroused deep emotions in Hong Kong. It led to a mass street demonstration in which tens of thousands participated; many office workers left their desks to join in the march from Central to Victoria Park. It was entirely spontaneous and peaceful. Since then it has been “commemorated” Continue reading »
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The Tiananmen Square massacre: the one sided story
If you thought we knew everything about the Tiananmen Square Massacre of June 3-4, 1989, think again. Mysteries remain. Some are so significant we need to review our ideas about what was going on in China at that time. Continue reading »
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London reports on Hong Kong: politics undercut analysis
The British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) issued its latest “six-monthly” report on Hong Kong on 10 June.[1] Although this report has emerged five and half months after the end of the period it covers, from 1 July to 31 December 2020, the delayed delivery does not appear to have improved its substance. Continue reading »
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Why the Western narrative of China’s ‘debt trap diplomacy’ is another big lie
To work well, the lie must be introduced early, repeated often and insulated from contradiction by a narrative of “fake news” and accusations of “witch hunts”. Continue reading »
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Hong Kong is not dying after all.
On 25 May, the China Centre at Jesus College, Cambridge University, hosted a significant online, two-hour seminar on The Future of Hong Kong. Continue reading »
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Do free markets still beat central planning?
Institutional arrangements are complex systems, shaped by history, geography, and culture. The objective should not be to identify a one-size-fits-all approach, but rather to devise the combination of characteristics that would deliver the greatest good for the greatest number of people, with the right checks and balances. Continue reading »
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Three things I learned as a white Australian academic in China
The term ‘nuance’ is often used to capture the multiple grey areas in our quest to understand China. The experience of teaching in a Chinese university led me to find a way to pinpoint and locate some of these nuanced spaces through an honest recognition of my own cultural and historical baggage. Continue reading »
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Was there a Wuhan lab leak? Why an inquiry won’t dig out the truth
A year ago, the idea that Covid-19 leaked from a lab in Wuhan – a short distance from the wet market that is usually claimed to be the source of the virus – was dismissed as a crackpot theory, supported only by Donald Trump, QAnon and hawks on the right looking to escalate tensions dangerously Continue reading »
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President Xi asks Chinese media, diplomats to tone down aggressive approach
Asked whether China will take a different approach in its diplomatic efforts in the light of Xi’s remarks, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a media briefing here on Wednesday that the comments were in line with China’s “peaceful development”. Continue reading »
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We have to handle our relationship with China, not leave it to others
How should we manage relations with China – New Zealand’s most complex foreign policy issue in the 21st century? Continue reading »
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US or China style governance: which is best for its people?
The US sees China as an enemy, and members of the US Congress compete to see who can appear the most belligerent against China. However, the Chinese have no missionary impulse to take over the world and have no expectations that other societies should become like them. Continue reading »
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Arbitrary detention in China: The case of Yang Hengjun
Australian Ambassador Graham Fletcher, denied observer entry to the closed court hearing of the case against Australian citizen Yang Hengjun, told the press on 27 May that the case was one of arbitrary detention. This was not an off-the-cuff remark or an attempt to further damage relations with China. Continue reading »
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The rejected murder suspect and the Taiwan Government’s lack of interest in the Rule of Law.
A Hong Kong resident, Chan, Tong-kai murdered his pregnant Hong Kong girlfriend, whilst they were holidaying together in Taiwan in mid-February, 2018. After killing her and disposing of her body, he fled back to Hong Kong, admitting to his crimes. Significant CCTV circumstantial evidence helped confirm what had happened, but the murderer has yet to Continue reading »
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Combatting Australia’s anti-China rhetoric
Tokyo’s security apparatus must have followed with amazement that excellent series by Max Suich in the AFR of 16, 17 and 18 May, revealing the anti-China antics of their Australian opposite numbers. Suich mentions how an elected member of Australia’s parliament was driven out in disgrace for maintaining a relationship with a suspected Chinese government Continue reading »
