Opinion
Why has a long-term understanding with Asia eluded us?
Even as Australia has become more multicultural, the best we can manage is a sort of pragmatism punctuated with fits of enthusiasm.
James CurranInternational affairs expertAustralia appears to be accepting that a transactional relationship with Asia will do. And some appear to be entirely relaxed and comfortable about it. But during a speech in Canberra late last month Foreign Minister Penny Wong raised the alarm.
She pointed out that the number of Mandarin-speaking Australians of non-Chinese origin total in the low hundreds.
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