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That is right. The securitisation of China policy, within the Canberra beltway, right now has reached a new consensus that we are right to take a more muscular approach, partly on the assumption that when it comes to the crunch on steel making coal, China needs Australia more than Australia needs China, somewhat the same for iron ore, though Brazil is a ready alternative source for China. Plus there has been a lot of Chinese money seeking secure long term investment havens, now sunk in Australian pastoral lands, vineyards etc. And there is a whole generation of Chinese who did their university (and often high school) education in Australia, and have fond memories. Right now the consensus holds, but don't be surprised if the iron ore and gas billionaires persuade the Canberra elite that China policy has too many dimensions to be left up to the security state, and the US DoD-funded Australian Strategic Policy Institute.

Nov 7, 2020
at
6:29 AM