Albanese setting an example in diplomatic acrobatics with China

As Geoff Chambers says, Anthony Albanese is “walking a superpower tight rope” in seeking to “delicately navigate the US-China power dynamic in the Indo-Pacific” (“PM tiptoes across superpower tightrope”, 28/10).

And his measured, warm, response to Chinese Premier Li Qiang despite the recent flare firing incident is testimony to his diplomatic skill and statesmanship in so doing. Our ASEAN neighbours may not like it but they, too, must walk this tightrope and they would be wise to follow the fine example of our Prime Minister in the way they go about it.

Terry Hewton, Henley Beach South, SA

It seems our Prime Minister is operating in a different reality compared with most mainstream Australians regarding the ongoing Chinese aggression against the ADF in the international waters of the South China Sea (“Fearing a flare-up, PM shoots from the lip about his China mate”, 27/10). His consistent soft stance is perplexing, as such aggression is clearly not the behaviour of a friend. In fact, it is the exact opposite. China is employing bullying tactics and our subservient response is precisely what it desires. Our Prime Minister needs to stand firm and push back against this behaviour. We are a proud and independent nation and must act accordingly.

Tom Moylan, Dudley Park, WA

Our politicians are finally realising that China is posing the biggest threat to our security. What is amazing is that our Department of Defence and Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water do not seem to be talking to each other. For a long time now, the government has been making commitments for billions of dollars on acquiring submarines, frigates and missiles to defend ourselves against China. At the same time we are spending billions of dollars building massive solar and wind farms and batteries for unreliable energy. We are also buying Chinese electric vehicles and other equipment.

We are almost becoming totally dependent on China. At a time of conflict, all this gear can possibly be remotely disabled. Can someone explain the logic of this madness?

John Kreicbergs, Middle Ridge, Qld

Diffident Libs

Where have those federal opposition members, touted as possible leaders, suddenly gone? As soon as there was a sniff in the air that Sussan Ley might be on borrowed time, Angus Taylor, James Paterson, and Jacinta Nampijinpa Price coyly vanished – gone, like last week’s pay.

Of the rumoured contenders for the job, only Andrew Hastie, whose media appearances had been infrequent, has been visible. No wonder Coalition supporters are confused and annoyed.

Rosemary O’Brien, Ashfield, NSW

Trump gets the trick

President Donald Trump seems to have outsmarted both nervous Anthony Albanese and Kevin Rudd. He would have known everything about both of them and used his ability to wield power to gain the rare earth minerals he needed, while the AUKUS alliance is not secure.

Trump took a leaf out of Xi Jinping’s “handsome boy” playbook in flattering a friendless Prime Minister, who could not contain his schoolboy excitement. Albanese’s eagerness to throw Rudd under the bus during the President’s put-down ignored Rudd’s work in achieving the rare earths success.

Albanese is fortunate Trump chose to ignore the Australian government’s treatment of our democratic Israeli allies and its failure to safeguard the Australian Jewish community by preventing the rise of anti-Semitism. Also ignored was our government’s destructive renewables policy.

Mary-Anne Higgins, Rose Park, SA

Rudd ‘here to help’

Surely there is a win-win solution to the problem of Kevin Rudd remaining as the Australian ambassador in Washington, which could offer significant benefits in many contexts. Early next year he could end his time in Washington to take up the appointment of the Australian ambassador in Beijing – a role for which his career and qualifications surely would make him well-qualified.

This could have the added benefit of making it less necessary for the Prime Minister to spend so much time in China.

Malcolm Stephens, Moss Vale, NSW

Why peace is fragile

Israel doesn’t and will not put its security in the hands of the UN. Too often, the UN and NATO peacekeepers have stood by as confrontation continued. Hezbollah ignored the peacekeepers and fired rockets into Israel when it suited them.

Yet we expect Israel to abide by the peacekeeping rules. It’s not hard to see why Israel does its own thing.

Murray Horne, Cressy, Vic