[coconutt2000]

Come on Howie... Offend the Chinese... They constantly offend us.

[snowsislander]

Howard said an application for political asylum by Chen Yonglin, a 37-year-old political affairs consul at China's Sydney consulate, would not be influenced by Australia's booming trade and economic ties with China.

Australia looks bad in this scandal: it does appear that it is the threat of damaging economic relations with China is the reason that Australia is leaving Mr. Chen hanging in a very cold wind.

If trade relations aren't the reason, then Australia needs to get another reason out there pronto -- we already have major human intelligence problems now with China (they have lots of spies, we have practically none), and if defectors know that they are going to get the cold shoulder when they try to escape, then we sure aren't helping ourselves.

[hershey]

Australia has to step up to the plate and do the right thing.

[SteveMcKing]

"I would rather die than be forced to do so ... "

He makes that threat when his wife asks him to help with the groceries.

[Calpernia]

ping

[truemiester]

Another western nation cow-towing to China. How repulsive!

[EGPWS]

A Chinese diplomat pleading for political asylum in Australia has said he would rather die than go home, as Prime Minister John Howard tried on Thursday to calm concerns the asylum bid may harm Sino-Australian relations.

This guy definitely married the wrong woman. ; )

[Dr. Marten]

The Horses Mouth

[Uncle Jaque]

This poor chump is dead meat.

Sort of like the kidnapped American woman sex-slave who escaped her "owner" and fled to the US Embassy in Saudi Arabia some years ago, only to be promptly thrown back out into the clutches of her captors.

I don't know where a chicom defector or whistleblower can run to for sanctuary these days; but it certainly ain't Australia... or the USA, for that matter.

Follow the money, eh?