Opinion
Wong’s colonial history lesson was actually a geopolitical play
The speech is a useful signal to progressive constituencies in both countries that conservative governments have no monopoly on strategic balancing against the bullying authoritarianism of Xi’s China.
Rory MedcalfGeopolitical analystThere were easy headlines this week claiming Foreign Minister Penny Wong had used an academic stage in London to strike back at the British empire.
After all, Senator Wong’s speech at King’s College, London, referred to her father’s family experience under British colonialism in South-East Asia. She alluded to her family history with polite understatement, but wasn’t going to remain silent either.
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