Posted on 03/16/2006 2:30:39 PM PST by oklahoma guard
The technology and renewable resources to sustain our civilisation will have to be developed by these countries. Imagine a world where there is no dependence on Middle Eastern oil! It can be done.
I wonder what some of these FReepers would say if they saw some of the nineteenth century cartoons depicting Australia's attitude towards the Chinese at that period in history? However, I think Australia is in the habit of being much more tactful towards its neighbours than say the Canadian Liberals are towards the US. I think Paul Keating's "recalcitrant" remark directed at Malaysia was about as undiplomatic as Australia gets. Australia is a western country geographically close to Asia, has had to relate to neighbours of a different culture, and I think this has probably contributed to a more tactful approach to neighbours.
In theory, some parts of the US are far closer to China - or other parts of Asia. For instance, I think if you notice a map of the world, Harbin (in Northeastern China) to Anchorage is shorter than the distance between Darwin and Haikou (in Hainan Island). Similarly, Tokyo is closer to San Francisco than Sydney. Not to mention Hawaii or America's Asian territories such as Guam or Mariana Islands.
The US believes in moral clarity - straight talking to disquel any wishful thinking. To a more diplomatically seasoned country such as Britain or France they may appear untactful but often the US pursues honesty to the ends. It's their choice at the end of the day.
Oops, it should be Seattle - but I noticed Seattle is about 7600 km from Tokyo while Sydney is 6950 km. Still it is far shorter flying from Tokyo to Seattle than Sydney and flying from Tokyo to San Francisco is shorter than to Sydney.
In the nineteenth century as a small European outpost, Australia was certainly nervous about Asia and China in particular. This was evident when the Chinese started arriving during the gold rushes. I imagine a country such as the US could never have felt the vulnerability that Australians felt.
Getting onto another subject, Canada and England have claimed that Australia has had special treatment at the gymnastics at the Commonwealth Games and the London "Times" has been critical of the performance of our swimmers.
It simply won't do for Australia to be standing up and loudly denouncing China. It's not a sensible policy given the region they are in.
What does make sense is speaking softly and carrying a big stick - the quiet buildup of Australia's military resources, and its co-operation with America, India and Japan are indicative of this.
I am sure we all would love John Howard to stand up, thump his chest and shout, "By God, China's the Evil Empire, damn them, damn them, damn them all to hell!". But he has a greater responsibility and has to govern what he says and does in the name of the national interest.
Regards, Ivan
The chap is gone now. Some other FRers suspect he was gogoman re-registered under another name - who was a status-quo China cheerleader. I once semi-debated with him and I can tell he is definitely a fan of Jiang Zemin's "Shanghai Cliques" inside the Chinese Communist Party.
There is no doubt Australia can't act like another Japan in rhetorics - after all, the Chinese Communists underestimate even Uncle Sam, and would they really chicken in front of Australia?
I hear that the only nation the "angry youths" (chauvinistic nationalists) are terrified of at this stage is Japan.
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