Tirade of words over arrest a proxy for US-China trade war

The claims of both China and the US ring hollow.

The West has legitimate security concerns over Huawei’s growing share in global communication infrastructure projects, considering Huawei’s alleged links to the Chinese government. Beijing is having it both ways, insisting Huawei is a private enterprise while mandating Communist Party branches in all levels of the company’s management.

 The “great fire wall” blocking most western social media and news outlets in the one-party state effectively creates a domestic monopoly for Chinese tech businesses that enjoy wide access to western consumers and advertising markets, especially the huge expatriate Chinese community.

  China’s protest on due process over the arrest rings hollow since it frequently detains without trial its own officials suspected of corruption .

For the US, President Trump’s outlandish rant that China is raping America with the trade imbalance rings hollow, if only for the fact the election banners of Trump’s campaign, the soaps and towels of Trump hotels and Ivanka’s clothing line were all made in China.

Han Yang, North Turramurra, NSW

The Chinese Government is calling the arrest in Canada of Huawei director Meng Wanzhou a vile violation of human rights. We can all sympathise at the plight of the family and friends of a prominent business person arrested overseas for a breach of laws unknown in their own country. Perhaps the Meng family should seek out Sydney’s Hu family for advice on the strategies that they used while Australian BHP businessman Stern Hu was detained for some time?

Garry P. Dalrymple, Earlwood, NSW

Diminishing returns

Alan Kohler writes of the issues of growing debt (“West is running out of money”, 11/12). It is unlikely there is a short-term solution, other than printing money and devaluing currency. The problem may stem from the addiction to indiscriminate population growth, which works but only as long as the marginal wealth benefit exceeds the marginal cost. At some point this relationship inverts and nations become less productive, deeply in debt, then ungovernable. Most Western nations are well down this track, but refuse to acknowledge it and make the necessary adjustments. America cannot be made great again, though Donald Trump is at least displaying awareness. In Australia, the time for tough decision-making is now.

William Mapleston, Ashgrove, Qld

Bottom line is ...

The decline in traditional academic culture noted by Greg Melleuish ("Universities more concerned about brand reputation than freedom", 11/12) is, indeed, regrettable. In a university established to "benefit the country" by encouraging free research into all subjects, students and staff should be allowed to "speak out and express their views freely", even if this temporarily affects the university's reputation and financial interests.

If universities are metamorphosing from authentic centres of culture into businesses, this shift of emphasis deserves analysis.

Nigel Jackson, Belgrave, Vic

Growing out of youth

Before the outbreak of World War II, Oxford University students voted by 275 votes to 153 to support the motion “that this house will in no circumstances fight for its king and country”. Cambridge followed suit.

This was hotly debated both inside and outside the universities.

After the war started, undergraduates and resident postgraduates under the age of 25 were invited to join up for military service and 2632 out of a potential 3000 volunteered.

We should not be too hasty in making judgments on the natural predilection of youth to support contentious or even rebellious causes.

David Veal, Toowoomba, Qld