Last weekend Geraldine Doogue interviewed Richard Woolcott and Geoff Raby on the recent controversies about Chinese influence in Australia. Richard Woolcott was formerly Head of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and President of the UN Security Council. Geoff Raby was formerly Australian Ambassador to China.

In this interview, both Richard Woolcott and Geoff Raby pointed to the need for a more balanced consideration of Chinese growing influence in the world. They highlighted that China is reacting to the declared US ‘pivot to Asia’ and to provocative US naval activities.

Sam Dastyari may have been unwise in many things, but I think he was correct in pointing out that we should not involve ourselves in the dispute between China and the US over the South China Sea.

See link ABC Saturday Extra interview: https://radio.abc.net.au/programitem/pgml6mQJb6?play=true

John Menadue