Australia Feels Chill as China’s Shadow Grows

nytimes ^ | June 2, 2009 | By MICHAEL WINES

[Flavius]

If outlanders tend to associate Australia with kangaroos, broad-brim leather hats and an opera house, many Australians are different. They think of iron ore and bauxite, copper and coal, nickel, gold and uranium, a trove of mineral riches that is their nation’s birthright and the bedrock of its prosperity.

[Flavius]

darn server storage

[Travis McGee]

To China, Australia looks like an empty continent full of commodities it needs, plus fishing rights etc.

A handful of Aussies? No more than the Indians before Plymouth Rock.

[americanophile]

Rudd seems increasingly like a disaster...one with a childish ego too. I wasn't aware of "a slow American fade in the Pacific" however, as the article mentions.

[Flavius]

realistically the only thing Aussies can hope for is a nuclear deterrent

that’s all

[DuncanWaring]

“Siberia” is all of that, and doesn’t require a boat ride.

[americanophile]

We're still around:

[BGHater]

That is the nature of conquest. Countries take over countries.

If Australia will not arm and equip itself then they will go into the dust bin of history as well, just as the aboriginals who were there before.

[Travis McGee]

Sadly true. Ditto the Kiwis, etc.

[Travis McGee]

Don’t forget Africa. There are plenty of CHinese to go around.

[ponder life]

I've always found the Auzzies to be good ol blokes. And this rancor hasn't changed that view. I'm starting to realize, these sorts of reactions is a cross the Chinese have to bear as their global reach slowly becomes commensurate with an industrialized nation of nearly 1.4 billion people. There will be at least another 20 years of this sort of tension as China has not reached her pinnacle yet.

[ponder life]

Rudd seems increasingly like a disaster...one with a childish ego too.

I'm at a lost on why you would use the word "ego" to describe Rudd? If anything, I would think he is a humble man attempting to do what is right for his country and its relations in world affairs.

[americanophile]

Because everything I know about Kevin Rudd is not from this article. Here's why I used the term 'ego':

http://news.brisbanetimes.com.au/breaking-news-national/rudd-a-pig-over-plane-food-hissy-fit-20090416-a85z.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/australia/5295572/Australian-PM-Kevin-Rudd-threw-a-wobbly-over-hairdryer.html

[ponder life]

Speaking on Fairfax radio, he said the allegations were "absolutely ridiculous and absolutely false" and designed to draw attention away from the poor performance of his political rivals.

We all know that media can slander a persons name. I believe him when he says the allegations are false.