China won’t be the first to blink in the tariff war (“US tariffs on China are an economic act of war”, April 10). Donald Trump has grossly underestimated the might and determination of China. While both countries will suffer under this war, China is better equipped for survival. China has deeper and broader trade relationships than America and a large majority of the world economies trade more with China than with America. Meanwhile, Trump has alienated America’s friends and allies, causing them to seek alternate trading partners. Ultimately, they’ll be less dependent on the US, making America the biggest loser. The situation is dire, but Australia doesn’t need to panic. Trump will be forced to reverse all tariffs eventually, either voluntarily or under the weight of people power. Of course, when that time comes Trump will nevertheless claim it as a victory, being incapable of admitting defeat. Graham Lum, North Rocks
Donald Trump is staring across the table at the “inscrutable” President Xi Jinping, writes Tom Dolan.
Donald Trump recently told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that he didn’t have any cards. Now Trump is staring across the table at the “inscrutable” President Xi of China, who has let it be known that he is prepared to go all-in (“Xi will only get one Trump in his lifetime”, April 9). Xi is holding some powerful cards: almost $US1 trillion worth of US treasury bonds; up to $US3 trillion worth of US assets, any sell-off of which could irreparably damage the US economy; and Taiwan – Trump has threatened to incorporate Greenland, the Panama Canal and even Canada into the US. Xi could increase the stakes by taking Taiwan off the table. Trump needs to heed the words of the late, great American country singer Kenny Rogers in his signature song The Gambler: “You got to know when to hold them, know when to fold them.” Tom Dolan, Narraweena
I was surprised the Herald gave editorial space to Chinese propaganda from ambassador Xiao Qian (“There is no winner in a tariff war”, April 10), particularly after they just conducted a rehearsal for war with Australia, parading their military might on our coast. In light of this, the hypocrisy of the People’s Republic bleating to us about the unfairness of tariffs and “bullying” by the US is astounding. Liz Herbert, Coogee
Trump’s tariffs war on China evokes the adage that “when two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers.” Steve Ngeow, Chatswood
What a disgraceful situation, that a so-called leader of a powerful and (formerly) respected nation like the USA should show such contempt for the international community, in what was an affront to common decency (“Leaders ‘kissing my ass’ to make deals, says Trump”, April 10). I can imagine that many Americans will feel a sense of shame that their country, in which many have justifiable pride, should have a political system that could produce such a disgrace. Trump made his deplorable comments with the smug self-confidence of a schoolyard bully who has prevailed over weaker opponents. No wonder many countries are looking to China. A closer relationship with the communist state may well seem preferable to wearing the contempt of such an unreliable “ally”. Derrick Mason, Boorowa
I make a plea to the leaders of Australia – please don’t go to the White House and join the queue of “leaders kissing my ass” to make a deal. Australia is too proud a nation to grovel to Trump. And please don’t ever agree to any deal involving our precious minerals, which are too important to us to compromise. We’ve been pushed around by the US for too long now. It’s time for us to stand up as a nation and not be bullied by Donald Trump. Ken Butler, Mount Colah
Credit: cathy wilcox
One has to ask: how much did Trump’s family and friends make from prior knowledge of his backflip on tariffs (“Trump said it was a ‘great time to buy’ hours before Wall Street surged $7 trillion on his backflip”, April 10)? George Rosier, Carlingford
A cynical view of Donald Trump’s tariffs, which he has deferred, suggests manipulation by and for the billionaires. Create panic and buy shares; defer for a period of time and sell at a profit. Those with financial power can steer the system. Ferdo Mathews, Robina (Qld)
The question that really needs to be answered about Trump and his policies is, what effect are they having in America? If American businesses are putting on workers and wages are going up, this will be seen as a success in American eyes, and any change to Trump’s policies will be a long time coming. John Croker, Woonona
The bombing of Cambodia and Laos during the Vietnam War was ordered by then-American secretary of state Henry Kissinger, who later was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize. This prompted comedian Tom Leherer to say he was giving up irony in his act as nothing could possibly top that. Fast-forward to today, and it is rumoured that Donald Trump has his eye on a Nobel Prize. He seems to be using the Kissinger playbook – by starting a global trade war. Coral Button, North Epping
It really is time for the US Congress sit down and decide if Trump is fit to be president. He is obviously suffering from delusions of grandeur. While Joe Biden had his problems, they are nothing like Trump’s. John Rome, Mt Lawley
Decisive leadership needed
The international financial and security environment is the most dangerous it has been since World War II. Among other challenges, the next federal government will have to deal with two major bullies – Donald Trump and the Chinese Communist Party. Australia is facing the threat of big power armed conflict in our part of the world, while at the same time in danger of being crippled by a global trade war. The reality is that the next government will have to make complex decisions quickly and speak with confidence and unity. These challenges will be difficult enough for a united government with a parliamentary majority. It will be impossible to act firmly and quickly if Australia has a hung parliament, where a group of minor parties and independents, many with no international experience, have to quickly agree on a difficult course of action. We can’t have government paralysis over the next three years. So for the long-term security of our country in these volatile times, I suggest that you vote for either the Coalition or Labor. The country simply can’t afford a hung parliament. Paul McKeon, Coffs Harbour
Thank you, Shaun Carney, for saying what many of us have known for years (“Coalition not ready to lead nation”, April 10). Peter Dutton and his band of incompetent, misfit leftovers from the Morrison farce are not fit to run a sausage sizzle, let alone our nation. Tony Heathwood, Kiama Downs
When some political parties are floundering because their policies are not being overwhelmingly welcomed, they reach for the bottom of the barrel. It’s where the issue of immigration and foreigners lurk (“Dutton to cut migrant numbers by 100,000”, April 10). Con Vaitsas, Ashbury
Rio Tinto has been met with First Nations opposition to their Resolution mining proposal in Arizona.Credit: AP
Repeat offender
You would have thought that mining giant Rio Tinto had learnt its lesson after the public drubbing it received for trashing the culturally significant Juukan Gorge in Western Australia. But no, they are at it again. In the face of First Nations opposition to their Resolution mining proposal in Arizona, the mining juggernaut is reportedly calling on the Trump administration to help them disregard and destroy another culturally significant place (“President key to fast-track Rio copper project”, April 10). As recent history so glaringly shows, neither Trump nor Rio Tinto are to be trusted. Russ Couch, Woonona
Symbol of inequality
Thursday’s letters page was dominated by support for NSW Education Department secretary Murat Dizdar (Letters, 10 April), who suggested “debate and discussion” about the private school system. Quite right, too. And if you any further proof of the disparity that exists between public and private schools, we have the story about Scots College’s new $60 million faux castle (“Inside Sydney school’s new $60m faux castle”, April 10). This, and the fact that six of Sydney’s high-fee private schools have more than $600 million worth of building projects in the pipeline, are examples of why there must a rigorous overhaul of the way in which private schools are funded from the public purse. Did someone just say Gonski? Tim Overland, Castle Hill
Those underfunded selective and comprehensive public high schools that continually rank higher than Scots College must be very nervy now that the $60 million faux baronial castle is open for learning. Murat Dizdar’s suggestion for a discussion about public and private education funding is totally warranted. John Cotterill, Kingsford
Oh, the irony of seeing the image of the hideously extravagant Scots College’s new Student Centre (read library) after Wednesday’s editorial chiding Murat Dizdar for suggesting we need to debate and discuss the existence of private schools (“A culture war over public and private schools fails everyone”, April 9). What a symbol of waste and elitism, but there’s no envy here, just a long-held desire to see a level playing field where all students are able to reach their full potential. Sharon McGuinness, Thirroul
I’m almost speechless. Only one word came to mind when I saw the photo of the faux castle at Scots College – obscene. Margaret Grove, Concord
As an experienced education bureaucrat, Murat Dizdar is not engaging in pointless blue sky gazing, imagining we could suddenly abolish all private education (Letters, April 10). It’s pointless to debate whether that would be a good thing or not, because it simply will never happen. To me, what he appeared to be doing was trying to raise awareness of the value of a good public school education to a point where parents comfortably choose it over private schools. No longer should people feel forced to send a child to a religious school, or make sometimes huge sacrifices to send their child to a high-fee private school. Our society will benefit enormously if Dizdar is successful in achieving his goals. Ross Hannah, Bowral
The Scots College John Cunningham Student Centre by JCA Architects.Credit: Alex Donnini
I had a good chuckle reading the correspondence about public/private education (Letters, April 10). As a retired teacher, I well remember the NSW government auditors who used come regularly to my school to check that funds were being spent properly. On one occasion a pupil had left for Queensland and therefore no record card or transfer had been requested. Inadvertently, their record card was “still on the books”. The school received a follow-up letter requesting it return $49.70 to the education department. It was a pleasure to write back to state that since then, we had enrolled another six pupils so the department should forward us $248.50 to balance our books. Strangely, no further action took place. Ken Pares, Forster
Leaky system
It’s a sad reflection on their profession if an estate agent thinks it’s normal for all new buildings to have water leaks, as homeowner Maria Tsolakis was told (“Maria thought her townhouse was ‘perfect’. Then her bedroom ceiling began to drip”, April 9). Leaks are a fundamental failure of intended function. Imagine if planes or ships were allowed the same degree of failure: “It’s ok, all new planes fall out of the sky to start with.” Strata reports must be compelled to include all information, as building inspectors are required to report on everything they can get access to. Estate agents like that one clearly need to attend high school ethics classes. Dick Clarke, Wooloomooloo
Offensive cartoon
Cathy Wilcox has outdone herself – her cartoon perpetuates the worst and most vicious of stereotypes and antisemitic images of an Israeli/Jew (Letters, April 9). How does this offensive depiction aid cohesion in our society? Equally, where is the outrage against Hamas? Recently released Israeli hostages looked like concentration camp survivors. I don’t recall any artwork on that topic. Moreover, the latest Middle East conflict although a tragedy, is not happening in Australia. Can we stop feeding the anti-Israel lobby and focus instead on the multitude of domestic problems. Adele Abraham, Bondi
Safe for who?
On March 12, 2022, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia carried out a mass execution of 81 men, who were either shot or beheaded. Yet somehow it’s a very safe place for women, according to Liberal councillor Fiona Douskou, who just happens to do business in the kingdom (“Saudi Arabia very safe for women”, April 10). Zuzu Burford, Heathcote
Power to the people
My electricity supplier has two off-peak (lowest tariff) periods per 24 hours. One in the late night to early morning and one in the middle of the day. Generally, the off-peak tariff is only linked to hot water systems. Why should the daytime period (attributed to the generation of electricity by household solar panels) not be used to charge household batteries owned by people who can’t fit solar panels to their homes (e.g. apartment dwellers). The battery owner would benefit from reduced electricity costs in the evening peak period, and those who generate electricity from solar panels might get a higher feed-in tariff or a lifting of restrictions to supplying the grid in the daytime. This would also mean that rebates and incentives to use renewables could be utilised by all sectors of the community, not just those who, like me, are fortunate enough to own solar panels and a household battery. Peter Butler, Wyongah
Borroloola or bust
I agree with your correspondent Bob Doepel that Indooroopilly, Woolloomooloo and Gulargambone are impressive-sounding names to drop in front of foreigners, but the best of all has to be Borroloola (Letters, April 10). During university years instead of using my colleagues’ hackneyed exclamations such as “fantastic”, “awesome” or “unreal” when they received good news (usually passing an exam) I would simply exclaim “Borroloola!” This was met with expressions of amusement from some, and looks of “should he really have passed that exam?” from others. Bernie Bourke, Ourimbah
Gutter moon
Correspondent Therese Weiss says the moon waxes and wanes on different sides, depending on the hemisphere (Letters, April 10). As a student, I discovered the moon is, in fact, upside down in the northern hemisphere. I proved this in my university days by observing it from a prone position in the street outside the Hofbrauhaus in Munich, and later from a similar viewpoint in the street outside the Pig and Whistle in Cape Town. David Calvey, Gosford
Bin chicken blues
Have sympathy for the bin chickens. They’re refugees in our cities following the human invasion, modification and pollution of their homelands. Anne Matheson, Gordon
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