Second-most unfriendly nation? ‘That’s a badge of honour’

Hu Xijin: We can try to understand the Global Times’ effect on man. Picture: Getty Images

Welcome to the column where you provide the content. Global Times editor-in-chief and wolf warrior in hack’s clothing Hu Xijin has bitten the hand that feeds him, boasting of telling Australia’s ­ambassador in Beijing at a private lunch that Canberra was “the most unfriendly country besides the United States”. John bit back: “Being described by them as the second most hated? That’s a badge to wear with honour.”

Kim was cross:

“The CCP served up COVID-19 to the world and we’re the unfriendly ones? The CCP, just a bunch of hypocritical cowardly bullies … your time will come.”

Proud Deplorable declaimed:

“ ‘I am afraid Australia needs to really change its attitude towards China and make adjustments in its actions …’ It is hard to see relations improving when one side, China, believes it is faultless and all the fault lies with Australia despite its annexation of reefs in the South China Sea, deemed unlawful by the International Court, and its trade retaliation which breaches WTO rules, just for starters.”

Plain speaking from Peter:

“Well we all agree that China is the most unfriendly country to Australia, we don’t need to be told that.”

Bugger’s bit:

“This Mr Hu has the typical attitude of a communist ideologist: Arrogant and keep rubbing the self-inflicted wound (Trade embargoes) with salt as often as possible and blame the other party for their ‘wrong’ doing. His objective is to destroy the alliance within the western world.

“Therefore lets talk to our friends to unite our responses to this act of aggression on Australia, before others are singled out too. China has forgotten that all their economic power came from free trade with western counties. Now its time to reconsider our options.”

John wasn’t glum:

“Have a look at the ABC landline story from November on the Barley farmers in WA. 6 months on from having their crops banned from export to China, they all seemed pretty happy. New or increased exports to Thailand, Japan and the UAE at similar prices they had with China. They are rapt to no longer be locked into the China trap. Time for other exporters to roll their sleeves up and do likewise.”

Drink up, said David:

“Have fun drinking Brazilian wine. Brings new meaning to being on the turps.”

Sandy said:

“If you look around they are almost friendless except for a few Chinese-bribed third world failed states.”

Glencoe was diplomatic:

“I for one would not care less if we broke diplomatic ties with China. The less we have to do with them the better for us in the long term. My first choice though is to immediately get rid of their influences in our universities like those insidious Confucius Centres.”

Sam was sassy:

“Maybe Australia should grow up. It’s so dumb to be aggressive with our major commercial trading partner to please Donald Trump.”

Uncle Ho’s advice:

“Having lived in Asia including several years in Shanghai, I believe this is complex and isn’t going to go away quickly if we believe we need to hold our line (which we do).

“These proactive interventions are critical and we must play with a straight bat without any feedback to dumb inflammatory statements from PRC vehicles. We must show strength without the usual inflammatory outbursts the communists expect. And at the same time, over the next decade seek other trading partners. We are now in a very long game and there is no turning back.”

Blue Leader’s orders:

“Australia needs to keep winkling out/extracting CCP influence from all aspects of our national activities. Especially: R & D establishments, universities, ports and airports/airfields, utilities, infrastructure, companies/corporations, real estate, government (at all levels), political parties (at all levels), schools, farms and food producing factories (including dairy and cattle properties and businesses).

“Only then will we be in the same position with China here as we are with them in their nation. So far, the relationship has been all one-sided, with China telling us what we can and cannot do, in our own nation!”

Said Macs:

“Well thank goodness we are not relying on a Chinese 5G network. Based on current CPP behaviour it would be very reasonable to expect the CPP to withhold parts or even to degrade 5G network performance, for coercive purposes. The decision not to use Chinese 5G technology was very prudent.”

David H stroked his beard:

“ ‘We are a big country, you are a little country,’ said the Chinese sage. ‘Why are elephants afraid of mice?’ asked the Australian sage. ‘I don't know why elephants are afraid of mice,’ answered the Chinese sage. ‘Because mice are not afraid of elephants.’ ”

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Dishing it out: Xi Jinping proposed a swap for iron ore.

Robert Gottliebsen reckons Xi Jinping’s “Australia plan” is not going to plan, with China giving itself black eyes and being hit harder than us. Xavier had a plan of his own:

“Australia has got enormous leverage over many members of the party, unbeknown to them.

First cab off the rank involves placing caveats on any assets (read commercial real estate) purchased by or with the support of Chinese SOE supporting the illegal current trade action.

“Next, expand the measure to all assets backed by Chinese SOE. By now, there is bound to be north of $100bn of assets that could progressively find themselves encumbered.

“Step three would involve expanding the measure to residential real estate and financial assets of CCP members and relatives. This would go a long way in focusing the mind of many pre-eminent CCP members and spur them in planning a post-Xi era.

“Fourth would see the progressive expropriation of the aforementioned assets as reparation under WTO rules, commensurate to the damage done. The Darwin’s Port lease could be a good place to start, at about US$500M?”

Roger reckoned:

“An interesting article diminished by the throwaway last sentence. For all its vaunt, the PLA does not overmatch the US military in any significant way. Despite its size, the Chinese Army isn’t a real factor as no one plans to fight a land war in China as there’s no real need. As has been true throughout their history, China cannot go west or north, India, the Stans and Russia will see to that.

“Going south entails being bogged down in the SE Asia that has destroyed so many other interlopers and going east would result in ferocious casualties. The Chinese navy is fatally vulnerable in both AAW and ASW, two areas the USN absolutely excels at and their illegal fortress islands would be neutralised five minutes into any serious shooting war.

“The Chinese air force does have some cutting edge capability, but again, no one intends to play by the rules the Chinese air force might like to see. I’m not saying it’d be a push over, but I don’t think we should haul up the white flag just yet.”

Zoe seconded:

“Seriously! ‘The US has fallen behind China in many areas of defence’. China has no global military reach. It can only intimidate its immediate neighbours, and even then it will get its nose bloodied by many of them. In our region, China would have to be able to take on Australia, New Zealand, USA, India, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea. Perhaps even Canada and UK if CANZUK is more that just a cute acronym. (UK have no sense of humour about the current situation in HK.

“China’s only effective weapon against Australia is to stop buying our exports. They are using up ammo at the moment and our powder is dry. I genuinely hope that this ridiculous situation can be resolved in a rational manner. The crux of this article suggests that it would be in China’s interests to do so. But, suggesting Australians shouldn’t be ‘too cocky’ because we (and our allies) can’t defend ourselves is ridiculous.”

CEMI said:

“On December 6th, the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung had this to say on the subject: ‘In the dispute with Australia, China is flexing its muscles and wants to set an example. But the government in Canberra is not giving in. The rest of the world should pay careful attention.

‘There is a lot that can be learned from this situation. China is sowing suspicion and uncertainty throughout the world. They won’t win this one; we suddenly have many friends abroad. Australia must stick to its guns.’ ”

Jason S suggested:

“A very close Chinese Australian friend of mine has recently had a change of mind on Xi. Previously very supportive of all things China but after Xi’s bully boy style with Australia my friend is no longer a fan of Xi. I am sure many millions of Chinese nationals privately share similar concerns.

“Economically China has a big and growing debt problem. I think the pressure is showing that their centrally controlled Marxist economy can’t prosper on domestic demand alone. The CCP are paranoid about maintaining social cohesion through economic growth. Exports for China are key but after COVID-19 made in China is now globally on the nose.”

Glen remembered:

“China making record amounts of steel using raw materials supplied by Australia. We need to remember the saga of Pig Iron Bob.”

As agreed:

“That is why Xi is building up his military at a rapid rate. He will gain power over trade that way, if his economic plan doesn’t work. Either way, he needs those resources.”

TonyW countered:

“He cannot feed his army without us and our allies, let alone the whole population. China is extremely vulnerable and we need to call their bluff.”

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Space oddity: Elon, we have a problem. Picture: AFP/SpaceX

“Mars, here we come,” enthused Elon Musk after his SpaceX rocket Starship landed in rather a bigger blaze of glory than had been intended. Dionysius deadpanned: “People who succeed try and fail many times. People who are failures never try.”

Shane’s thesis:

“I am not a aeronautical engineer (But I like space movies), but methinks landing vertically is all right on a slimline rocket. But you get a big fat cigar type thing like that, the retro thrusters that need to be that big won’t be invented for another twenty years or more (think Prometheus spaceship on the movie Prometheus). You can have that one for free Musky!”

Yulia was undaunted:

“In Musk we trust.”

Realist pointed out:

“The rocket did not ‘crash in a fiery explosion during a test launch’ but during a test landing upon its return from space. Significant difference in that. It was amazing to witness the way the rocket turned itself around and returned to the exact spot of its launch. Regrettably too fast to stop in time. Still an impressive technical achievement.”

Dirk didn’t dig it:

“Musk and Bezos racing to Mars is capitalist madness in extremis. They should be made use their obscene wealth to fix up Planet Earth first. Reminds me of that poem, ‘Whitey on the moon’.”

Johnnw hit back:

“The same old socialist refrain … ‘let’s fix the problems on Earth first’. If humanity waited for that we’d never get anywhere. There wouldn’t be sport, science or the arts. We’d all be sitting around in our collectives living off other peoples money, talking about climate change and gender issues. No thanks.”

Dionysius doubled down:

“Why do socialists not understand economics? If Musk spends $1bn on a rocket that money does not disappear. It goes into the hands of the suppliers, technicians and the burger-flippers who feed the staff and they spend it to house themselves, educate their children and help solve the problems of humanity. If he doesn’t, it stays in his bank account.

“That money is not lost. It is recirculated. And it generates the knowledge, science and technology that has been raising our standard of living since the agricultural revolution.”

Cosmic, said Karen’s hubby:

“I watched the whole flight and it was amazing. Very close to success it would have appeared as well. Exciting.”

Importantly, from Ernest:

“Say what you like about Musk but his achievements are outstanding.”

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