Trump’s wake-up call to Australia’s leaders
Nov 21, 2024
Trump’s anti-China 60% import tax barrier will weaken China’s economy and is predicted to have flow on effects impacting negatively on Australia’s economy. Will our political leaders now realise that Australia’s involvement in a military war against China for which they are furiously preparing, would have a devastating impact on our economy and Australian life generally as all trade with China would cease in such a scenario?
Trump’s proposed 60% tariff barrier against Chinese imports into the U.S with the consequent and intended effect of weakening the Chinese economy will, if enacted, place Australia’s political leadership in a serious bind, and it appears that some are starting to realise this. It seems to have suddenly dawned on them that Australia’s economic prosperity, unequally shared though it is, is largely due to a favourable trading relationship with China. A weakened Chinese economy resulting from Trump’s tariff barrier would mean less Chinese demand for Australia’s resources, drastic shortages of everyday items, loss of jobs and general disruption of our economy and our everyday life. Our situation is made worse by the lopsided nature of Australia’s economy, based as it is on mining and agriculture.
Why then do Australia’s political leaders continue to plunge ahead with preparations for our active participation in a U.S-provoked war on China over Taiwan when the dire consequences of this are becoming ever more obvious. The initial result would be cessation of all trade with China. In the event of serious hostilities, the Chinese would be militarily obliged to launch retaliatory strikes against U.S military installations on our soil, and ADF installations as well.
In short, Australia’s interests will not always coincide with those of the U.S and policy towards China is one of these areas of difference, or it should be if the best interests of the Australian people are to be served.
But what do we see? There is continued massive expenditure on training and equipping the ADF for distant wars rather than the self defence of Australian territory. This preparation has now advanced to the point where the ADF, as Defence Minister Marles has proudly asserted, is now inter-changeable with the U.S military. The U.S now commands a very capable military force in Australia which will allow it to use Australia as a forward base in its forever wars. U.S military strategy currently favours using so-called allies as proxies in its wars, feeding them with intelligence, munitions and training while its military-industrial complex (MIC) rakes in the super-profits. We see this situation in the Ukraine, where the U.S is using the Ukrainian Kiev regime as a proxy in its war against Russia and in the Middle East where the U.S is using Israel as a proxy against Iran.
At the recent national conference of the Independent and Peaceful Australia Network (IPAN) in Perth John Lander, former deputy Australian Ambassador to China, gave a warning which is worth heeding. He said that: “The U.S is not preparing to go to war against China. It is preparing Australia to go to war against China.”
The Australian people seem to have better awareness than our political leadership of the dangers posed by Australian involvement in a U.S war on China. In 2023, two national opinion polls, one by the Lowy Institute and the other by Essential Research, showed that the majority of Australians favour keeping out of war against China and remaining neutral. In the case of Australian women the figure was 73% in favour of this course of action.More recently, following the election of Donald Trump as U.S President, the Sydney Morning Herald, in seeking reactions to this event, found in a national poll that 57% of Australians, a clear majority, agree that Australia should avoid taking sides in any conflict between the U.S and China.
Imbedded in the Declaration issued at the conclusion of IPAN’s National Conference in Perth, 6th October, 2024 was this call on the Government: “To declare that Australia will not be involved in a war against China, or any other country, or allow Australian territory to be used to support such wars.”
It’s a worry if our political leadership can’t see the serious economic and social consequences of engaging in military hostilities against China. However, it is of even greater concern if they do indeed understand but still steadfastly maintain support for U.S foreign policy and its antagonism to China. One must ask whether Australia’s political leadership is prepared to sacrifice the economy, jobs and indeed the best interests of the Australia people on the altar of maintaining of U.S world primacy.
Bevan Ramsden is a former telecommunications engineer, TAFE teacher and member of the NSW Teachers Federation. He is a long-time peace activist and advocates for Australia’s independence. He is a former member of the coordinating committee of the Independent and Peaceful Australia Network) IPAN) and current editor of its monthly e-publication, Voice.
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