Editorial: Chinese money is not risk-free

CHINA is a far more open society than previously. So, in dealing with China, Australia must walk a cautious line. This may be why the NSW Department of Education has sidelined a free travel program to China for school principals following concerns it was primarily a “propaganda exercise” for the Community Party.

CHINA is a far more open society than previously. That increased openness has delivered massive benefits to the Chinese people, who for decades endured widespread poverty under the collectivist policies of hard-line communist rulers.

By official accounts, about 37,000 people have been lifted above the poverty line every day in the past five years. That’s an impressive number, but it must always be remembered that China was coming off a dreadfully low base. The only way to go for China was up.

It must also be remembered that China is still controlled by its Communist Party, with all of the secrecy, concealments and limits to freedom that entails.

So, in dealing with China, Australia must walk a cautious line. China is obviously a hugely important market for Australian mineral exports, but the great wealth generation this provides should always be balanced against certain unavoidable geopolitical realities.

The Confucius classroom site at Rouse Hill Public School.

Maintaining that balance appears to be the reason why the NSW Department of Education has sidelined a free travel program to China for school principals. This move follows concerns that the travel program was primarily a “propaganda exercise” for the Community Party.

Previously, school principals would be hosted in China for nine days as guests of the Hanban Institute, an arm of the Chinese Communist Party. In a parallel program, the Chinese government has lately established a presence in four primary and nine secondary NSW schools.

On the surface, this seems like a sweet deal. Participating schools receive $20,000 worth of interactive media equipment, a $10,000 start-up grant and can apply for $10,000 a year thereafter in funding from the Chinese government.

Alexander Nilsen and his wife Gina are worried about the program. Their son Fabian, 8, attends Chatswood Public where the program is being offered.

But there are conditions. Those schools are visited by Chinese-appointed agents billed as “native speakers”, who critics say are monitoring what is being taught and whitewashing Chinese history.

“They’re trying to discourage things that are directly critical of Communist Party control,” Australian Strategic Policy Institute international relations expert Peter Jennings points out. “For example, the reasonably serious crackdown on human rights and individual liberties that is happening in China today.”

The NSW government evidently has valid concerns over those conditions. Besides cancelling this year’s scheduled school principal visits to China, the government is also conducting an internal investigation into how the Chinese schools program is being run.

Trade is good, but never at the expense of liberty.

Silence isn’t always golden

SEVERAL large-scale sex scandals involving hundreds of young girls have come to light in the UK in recent years. One factor in these scandals was a reluctance to take action because officials did not want to appear bigoted towards accused Muslim offenders. A study now reveals many Australians are similarly reluctant to criticise mass immigration, fearing they, too, will be branded racist. This is worrying. A mature nation ought to be able to discuss all manner of subjects. The alternative is a society made silent through fear. It wouldn’t be Australian.

Budget surplus will return

AT the serious end of politics, the Turnbull government — buoyed by tax receipts at least $4.8 billion higher than estimated — is considering returning Australia to a budget surplus by 2021.

This would be a mighty reversal of fortunes after spendthrift years under Labor treasurer Wayne Swan, who never met a debt he couldn’t increase.

Greens Leader Dr Richard Di Natale. Picture: Kym Smith

And at the opposite end of politics, in the playground sector, we have the Greens.

“This is a Budget that looks after the government’s big-business mates and that will leave ordinary people behind,” Greens leader Senator Richard Di Natale said yesterday.

You know, sometimes it is difficult to escape the impression that the Greens really don’t have the first clue about how an economy works.