“A self serving dish of tripe. In China no member of a foreign embassy would be given the opportunity to have an opinion piece criticising China published. I am surprised The Australian was so generous. That said it is a smart piece in that it appears plausible but in reality it is just as full of hubris as most utterances by Chinese ‘diplomats’.”
John joined in:
“Mr Wang is free to get his letter published here with no repercussions. Imagine what would happen if I criticised the Chinese Communist party standing on a soap box in Beijing. I’d get a Chinese perspective pretty fast.”
Andrew’s aspect:
“My wife was born in Shanghai but has been an Aussie for 20 years — of course her family is still there. A few weeks ago we caught up with her 30-something cousin while travelling. In the dinner conversation I made certain remarks about Australian politics, political parties and individual politicians. The cousin sat in silence, clearly shocked. I asked why?
“The response was: ‘In China we would never say such things, or make any criticism about our leader. If we did we would be made to ‘disappear’.’ There, how’s that for understanding something about China?”
Comment of the week to Lucifer’s_dawn, who declared:
“One of the major reasons for this disparity in understanding China is that the Chinese perspective, the views of ordinary Chinese citizens, has seldom surfaced in this corner of the world.
“The views of ordinary Chinese citizens, particularly their political views, seldom surface in China either, at least if they differ from the views of the Communist Party.
“Australians have nothing against ordinary Chinese people. They are a major component of our immigration program. The problem lies with the undemocratic, authoritarian Chinese Communist Party. The party which has ignored international trade rules for decades and which has illegally militarised the South China Sea almost down to the equator. The party which spies on and oppresses its own people, and which entangles poor nations in debt traps.
“It’s too late for Chinese propaganda now: the cat is out of the bag. The entire world knows what China is up to. In Western culture we have an old saying, which has been around for a couple of millennia: ‘By their fruits you shall know them’. We have seen the fruits of the Chinese communist party and want nothing to do with them.”
Hadyn huffed:
“Perhaps if China stopped threatening Taiwan, Tibet, taking over the South China Sea, looking to dismantle longstanding institutions in Hong Kong that preserve rule of law, ended the incarceration of Uighers just for being Muslim and not Han, allowed the Catholic Church the freedom to run its own affairs without the government choosing its bishops, ended facial recognition surveys and social credit monitoring of its population then maybe Australians will stop being a touch cynical about such a ruthless and authoritarian regime. Just saying.”
Matt marvelled:
“I really like Chinese people. Great culture. Wonderful food. Good business acumen. Really excellent family values. It is a pity about their choice of government … oh, wait, did they get a choice?”
Adrian was angry:
“Simon Cheng, a member of staff in the Hong Kong British Consulate, was taken into custody and tortured in mainland China. And you dare lecture us on how we are to view your country!”
A blast from Barbara:
“You said this with a straight face? ‘If an Aussie really cherishes the fundamentals of human rights (jails 1-million Uighers), respects mother nature and humanity (worst polluter on Earth), plans a good future for their children (weaponises South China Sea), please make an effort to know the Chinese perspective.’ Frankly, I think it's the author that needs to understand the western perspective a little more.”
Glen goaded:
“He has no idea about democracy, thinks only in Mandarin, and will never say anything contrary to the Communist Party’s thinking. Banning the two politicians is the equivalent of a petulant child and it displays China’s thin skin when it comes to criticism.
“The reason Australia and Australians are becoming increasingly concerned about China is because they are not acting like good world citizens. Their actions in the Pacific … are ‘not benevolent.’ China is on the march and it’s only going to end in tears.”
Brian was befuddled:
“This has to be one of the most disturbing op-eds I’ve read for quite some time. Coming from the charge d’affaires it is written in the most undiplomatic language — full of arrogance and condescension. The argument that Australians are obliged to understand our relationship from a Chinese perspective (the implication being that the CPP’s perspective is a Chinese perspective) is essentially a demand we abandon our own perspective. As our perspective comes from examining China’s actions through the lens of our interests and our values, Australians are apparently expected to see our role in the world as how we connect in and support China’s interests and values. The suggestion we learn Mandarin is textbook imperialism.
“Mr Wang is no doubt an intelligent man. The irony that he is writing in a fashion that is so tone deaf to an Australian perspective is surely not lost on him. This would lead one to believe that Mr Wang is conveying exactly the message and the tone that Beijing wants to see him communicate to us.”
–
Hedley Thomas kicked the Hong Kong hornets’ nest with his piece painting the democracy-loving freedom fighters of popular description as masked thugs and reckless firebugs wreaking violence on anyone who questions their behaviour or narrative. Dark days, said Diana:
“As a long time Hong Kong expat who is watching the destruction of our city with deep sadness, I read this expose with such a sense of relief. At last. A journalist has reported the situation as it is and not as a narrative that suits the international media. This is a very very important article. Read and believe. Thank you.”
Andrew argued:
“Hedley condemns the behaviour of youth who see their parents meekly succumbing to the dictatorship of President-for-life Xi. They see the re-education camps in mainland China, the Bamboo Curtain of media censorship, the dissidents who disappear. Hedley, in his first world bubble, decries their violence. It is the wing flapping violence of a chicken that has sighted the axe.
“Teenager’s shout that the Emperor is naked. Xi is a tyrant. He does not respect Western rights or freedoms. Hong Kong teenagers bravely resist their fate. Taiwan watches, fearful. The west wrestles with a strategic nightmare, where geopolitics and morality do not coincide. Hedley seems blind to the pathos of this situation; he thinks the students should go to their fate quietly. As docile as lambs.”
Not so, said Miguel:
“I disagree; Hedley is REPORTING and not feeding me with his opinion. Protesters have now run Hong Kong to the ground and don’t forget criminals join the party — any excuse to rob and thieve.”
Ray B2 feared:
“It seems a violent end is the only option for these protesters if they keep going. Xi is certainly not going to look favourably on them. And the Hong Kong government? They have scuttled away to their caves at the first puff of wind from an approaching storm, leaving the people they are supposed to represent to fend for themselves.”
Woe, said William:
“I think the article brings balance and a certain reality. Student violence ramped up very early, the inept governance weak and unseeing but China is still holding back. There were better solutions but time is nearly done and the great Hong Kong of my past is no more.”
Sophie said:
“This will get worse. It is not a freedom fight — more like rebels without a cause. When a bystander calling for peace gets doused with petrol by the protesters, it’s over.”
Right, said Richard:
“The burning of that man was horrific and cowardly. The previously peaceful protest movement has been hijacked into anarchy. So sad to see in a once prosperous and safe city.”
Michael was measured:
“Thanks Hedley, as always can trust in you to tell it as it is. Being on the ground in HK leaves me slack jawed at the terrible coverage. Journalists seem to have forgotten that their job is to report the news, not push an agenda.”
Russell suggested:
“Talk to people from Hong Kong and it isn’t long before the resentment or anger about the influx of mainlanders comes to the surface. It covers a myriad of things from bad manners, lack of hygiene, buying up goods in bulk and so the list goes on. It would seem that the HK govt has done little to deal with this problem which has now exploded.”
Andrew was aghast:
“Wait till you experience it. Day in and day out. Treated badly in your own city by foreigners who think they are so much better than you. Manners are important. Try using a public toilet in China.”
Nick noted:
“At last, a really great article on what’s happening in HK. I’ve been amazed at how much support the protesters are getting. They’re targeting any business and people with links to China. People who speak Mandarin and speak out against the protest movement are being attacked and many mainland Chinese students have been forced to flee HK. How can anyone support a protest movement that won’t listen to any opposing view and indiscriminately targets people based on their ethnicity?
“There are lots of people, like myself, who live in HK and are appalled at what the rioters are doing. I think they’re the majority. But they have to be a very SILENT majority as the rioters are so sure their actions are justified they will attack any dissenters. Numerous people have been pushed, punched and attacked. It’s not just the poor man that was set on fire or elderly man that was killed after being hit by a rock.
“The main reason the rioters are so bold is they’re getting a lot of positive feedback. Grandstanding US politicians rail against Chinese government interference, suppression of the protest movement and the unjustified use of force. The Chinese government has done nothing other than speak out against the violence. And the police have to use some degree of force to clear roads and get the country working. In any other country, far more force would have been used by now.
“If only there was more press coverage like this which provides a balanced view of what is really happening. Congratulations on the best article I have read so far on the HK riots.”
–
Flight attendants went on the attack over pop star will.i.am’s outing of a Qantas cabin crew member he claims treated him poorly because of his race. The incident is believed to have stemmed from will.i.am’s behaviour throughout the flight, from refusing to show his boarding pass to ignoring safety directions to stow his laptop. Jeremy was flying high:
“I’ve been a pilot for 30 years and that is 100pc. Also, it couldn’t have been the flight attendant calling police, that responsibility rests with the captain and would have only been done after considerable consultation.
“To US travellers, particularly if ‘feted’ Australian rules may seem over the top, that doesn’t mean you pick on the messenger, and to use the race card as a defence is reprehensible. Unfortunately that is relied on too much in the US.”
Argus argued:
“This so-called celebrity seems to have some confusion concerning race and misbehaviour. If misbehaviour is committed by a racial minority it is not racial discrimination but it is merely an appropriate reaction to the behaviour concerned.
“If the individual concerned accepted that his misbehaviour was the cause of the response there would be no problem, but of course accusations of racism is par for the course for some self absorbed individuals who think they should not be subject to sanction because of their skin colour.”
Craig considered:
“Perhaps it was a misunderstanding but the pile on by the social media trolls on the flight attendant just reinforces my belief that social media is basically a sewer.”
Cat countered:
“A better headline would be ‘Millionaire musician can’t follow simple instructions’.”
Geoff growled:
“It is all just one big cess pit of wokeness, identity politics will eventually eat itself, this is just the start.”
Wayne weighed in:
“There is no racism here, just Spoiled and entitled celebrities placing their indulgence above the safety of others around them.”
Alistair added:
“Take your damn earphones off. It drives me nuts when people who constantly wear earphones slam things down and are ignorant of people trying to talk to them.”
Last word to Glen:
“This reminds me of the apocryphal story about Muhammad Ali. When the flight attendant told him to put on his seatbelt Ali said ‘Superman don’t need a seatbelt’.
“To which the flight attendant replied: ‘Yes but Superman don’t need a plane either’.”
And John:
“And your story reminds me of one doing the rounds a few decades back, when German tennis ace, Boris Becker boarded a Qantas flight and brushed past the attendant and plonked down in his seat without showing his boarding pass. When challenged he replied something like: ‘I do not vish to be disturbed, you vill not serve me food unless I request. Othrvise it vill be your job … Jawohl?
“To which the Qantas attendant replied: ‘Certainly sir. May I please have your name?’ ”
–
Each Friday the cream of your views on the news rises and we honour the voices that made the debate great. To boost your chances of being featured, please be pertinent, pithy and preferably make a point. Solid arguments, original ideas, sparkling prose, rapier wit and rhetorical flourishes may count in your favour. Civility is essential. Comments may be edited for length.
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Welcome to the column where you provide the content. The charge d’affaires at the Chinese embassy in Canberra, Wang Xining, took aim this week at The Australian’s Strategic Forum on China, claiming its panellists fell short of representing the Chinese perspective, complaining about “distortion … in the local portrait of my homeland … an alien country, not the place I grew up over the past half a century”, and instructing Australians to start learning Mandarin. Jeffrey wasn’t having it: