Chinese imperialism and future Australian sovereignty

[stui magpie]

It does provide some different perspective and I do agree some of the hysteria is OTT, but this completely disregards China as having any designs in the Pacific other than Trade.

It's Belt and Road initiative, otherwise known as debt trap diplomacy, hasn't been about Trade but influence and expansion.

[pietillidie]

I just wanted to share some insight I've gleaned on generational change in China. My beloved is doing a second master's and there is a large contingent of Chinese students in the course as there was in her first master's. But the cultural shift is dramatic on eight years ago.

This cohort is embracing every opportunity to mix, ask questions, get involved with uni activities, etc. Many also now say outright they don't want to go back as it's too restrictive, something which she's never heard before.

I've been waiting for this to happen, as I had picked up some shift in the tourists from China to Korea, having chatted to a few, and assumed travel, media and study would have to shift things eventually.

Of course, the authoritarians will try to rein in the enthusiasm like the wet blankets they are, but as with Korea once the genie of world curiosity and travel are out of the bottle, and the grip of the old generation weakens, the momentum can be difficult to stop.

Having met one of her classmates online, the enthusiasm and openness reminded me of young Koreans as it opened up with generational shift. Sure, it's just an anecdote, but it could be a telling one. So be careful not to deter young Chinese by lumping them in with older authoritarians, as well as bearing in mind that as with any country there are more conservative and more liberal young people. Moreover, some people simply repeat the party line until you get to know them, after which they let their hair down.

Anyhow, I wanted to share that as it made my day.

[pietillidie]

Further thereto:

China Covid: Protesters openly urge Xi to resign over China Covid curbs

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-63771109[/quote]

[pietillidie]

I just wanted to share some insight I've gleaned on generational change in China. My beloved is doing a second master's and there is a large contingent of Chinese students in the course as there was in her first master's. But the cultural shift is dramatic on eight years ago.

This cohort is embracing every opportunity to mix, ask questions, get involved with uni activities, etc. Many also now say outright they don't want to go back as it's too restrictive, something which she's never heard before.

I've been waiting for this to happen, as I had picked up some shift in the tourists from China to Korea, having chatted to a few, and assumed travel, media and study would have to shift things eventually.

Of course, the authoritarians will try to rein in the enthusiasm like the wet blankets they are, but as with Korea once the genie of world curiosity and travel are out of the bottle, and the grip of the old generation weakens, the momentum can be difficult to stop.

Having met one of her classmates online, the enthusiasm and openness reminded me of young Koreans as it opened up with generational shift. Sure, it's just an anecdote, but it could be a telling one. So be careful not to deter young Chinese by lumping them in with older authoritarians, as well as bearing in mind that as with any country there are more conservative and more liberal young people. Moreover, some people simply repeat the party line until you get to know them, after which they let their hair down.

Anyhow, I wanted to share that as it made my day.

This speaks to the above. There are still conservative young people (so the young red hats who support Trump), but you have to support the young people who have grown tired of the oppression:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_rNaqV8B1c

Brilliant!

The daring people cut the path and break down the barriers:

Sydney-based Chinese comedian He Huang divided social media after her audition on Australia’s Got Talent went viral recently.

Despite some arguing her jokes unhelpfully reinforce stereotypes, she says she's simply telling jokes that speak to her own experience living abroad.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-australia-63953451

[pietillidie]

Is the mutually-destructive hardman fest between China and Australia being left behind? Hopefully, the biggest mouths on both sides are finally being recognised as costly burdens.

Australian and Chinese officials will meet in the coming days to discuss a relaxation of trade restrictions after Commerce Minister Wang Wentao signaled that relations are set to improve further.

The tensions “didn’t occur overnight, and they’re not going to be resolved overnight,” Trade Minister Don Farrell said in an interview with Bloomberg. “Although the minister did say to me, ‘the freeze is over and we’re now moving to a warm spring.’”

Wang made the comment to Farrell during talks on Feb. 6, the first between China and Australia’s trade ministers since 2019. Farrell also said he’s hopeful of breakthroughs on the sale of timber, wine and dairy to Chinese consumers.

Such an outcome would be a shot in the arm for Australia’s economy, given China remains its largest trading partner. It would also be a win for the eight-month old Labor administration, which has opted against megaphone diplomacy with Beijing in contrast with its center-right predecessors.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles ... chief-says

[stui magpie]

We've found other markets which is a good thing, so we aren't reliant on psycho's.

[pietillidie]

We've found other markets which is a good thing, so we aren't reliant on psycho's.

Is this registering to any serious extent in the actual trade data, or is it just more internet tough talk?

[think positive]

We've found other markets which is a good thing, so we aren't reliant on psycho's.

Hopefully the new markets also have better human rights and animal rights issues - and less balloons,

Hard to be worse anyway!

[stui magpie]

https://www.theage.com.au/business/comp ... 5cjh8.html

I've read other articles recently that wen't into more depth across different sectors. The fact seems that China's ban on things from Aus caused them more pain than it did to us, as we largely diversified and found new markets.

Interesting in the article above, it says how China is sniffing around looking to buy Coal, but no one has any surplus to sell them, it's already comitted elsewhere.


Here's a more detailed piece. Some products like Wine and Fish have found it harder, but generally most industries have adapted, meaning China has shot itself in the foot.

https://www.afr.com/world/asia/china-s- ... 220-p5c7vl

[stui magpie]

https://www.theage.com.au/politics/fede ... 5cpt8.html

Prior to the latest announcement of the AUKUS Subs, The Age did a 3 part investigation series into the threat China poses to Australia, and it's not pretty.