In the shadow of China, our politics flirts with danger

Point-scoring in the election over China is immature and dangerous (“Great brawl over China”, 16/2). China is dominant in our region. Despite talk of diversifying our export markets, it remains our major consumer.

There are more than enough immediate domestic concerns to discuss, such as tax reform, defence and energy policy. Bagging China is a thimble and pea trick to take our eyes away from the hard issues. Frankly, there is nothing we can do to alleviate the problems of the Chinese people. But after this election we must rebuild relations with Beijing. With every day, we’re making it that much harder to do.

Paul Everingham, Hamilton, Qld

Like many Australians I agree with Scott Morrison’s stance on China and Russia. I also agree that Labor in government would be soft on China. But the PM is once again reading from his marketing text book: lots of rhetoric (“PM’s khaki election ploy risks backfiring”, 16/2), but damn-all substance. Where is his strategy?

Defence Minister Peter Dutton is arguably the best in the portfolio in decades, but he’s one man. We need a government to show a commitment to a strong defence strategy; and it needs to be much, much more than a few nuclear-powered submarines on the never-never whiteboard.

John George, Terrigal, NSW

With the looming election, we should be sceptical when Anthony Albanese and Adam Bandt deny any possibility of forming a power-sharing arrangement after the vote (“Adam Bandt rules out Greens coalition with Labor”, 14/2).

Considering Labor is already dependent on Greens’ preferences to win a swag of seats, it is an odds-on bet they would unite to gain power. Albanese and Bandt would rush to the proverbial altar in the event of a hung parliament.

Peter Curtis, Werribee South, Vic

With a growing public perception that a future Labor/Green government would be more agreeable to dealing with Beijing on an appeasement basis, one would trust that the Australian Chinese diaspora – which benefits from Australia’s democracy and its freedoms – would now become more inclined to vote for the Coalition in the upcoming federal election.

David Spratt, Mosman, NSW

Scott Morrison risks showing signs of desperation and actually undermining the major achievements of his first term if he overplays the prospect of the soft approach that a Labor government may take on China.

In fact, the PM should be congratulating the Opposition for its apparent support for his unequivocal stand against China’s trade coercion and other bullying tactics, for the rising status of the Quad and the achievement of AUKUS.

Such a reinforcement of bipartisanship is necessary because the long lead times of issues at hand, especially rolling out nuclear submarines, will pass through numerous changes of government. If Albanese has an issue with this, let’s hear it.

Ron Hobba, Camberwell, Vic

The Coalition government did nothing when the strategically important Port of Darwin was leased to a Chinese company with links to Beijing. Just this week we learned that once again the Coalition is doing nothing while an economically vital rare earths company may be about to be acquired by a Chinese company. And Scott Morrison claims Labor is weak on China.

Barry Harrod, Fig Tree Pocket, Qld

News that Beijing backs Albanese for PM should bring out the best in our conspiracy theorists. Now’s the perfect time for a Chinese submarine to once again snatch a Liberal PM from our surf, and for him to never be seen or heard of again.

I would respectfully suggest it might be wise for Jenny to hide Scott’s bathers between now and the election.

Crispin Walters, Chapel Hill, Qld

Clive Palmer is spending a squillion on advertising, including his regular front page strip in this newspaper, but like the Democrats in the US whose main theme was “get rid of Trump”, Palmer’s advertising sends only one message – “get rid of both Labor and the Coalition”.

But what are the United Australia Party policies on schools, health care, defence, climate change – anything?

John Clark, Burradoo, NSW