I stood for US alliance as well as our China partnership
December
Cold War warriors: Australia’s China panic has gone too far
December
Chinese-language media in Australia: an opportunity for Australian soft power
December
By Wanning Sun
More than ever before, Australia is wedged between its economic dependence on China and its security alliance with the US. How the Chinese-language media in Australia figures in this fraught relationship is no longer just an academic question.
Some have argued that the sector has become a key tool for China to exert soft power and influence in Australia.
No nostalgia for Mao in the Australian-Chinese community
December
By Bob Carr
No sweeter duty for a Premier. A convention centre packed with families, their youngsters being praised as the highest achievers in the end-of-school exams. A happy annual ritual.
Looking back, one thing stands out about the annual awards for young scholars: the steady rise, in my years, in the number of students with Chinese names (and those with Indian and Vietnamese names).
Despite China free trade agreement Australian beef producers are missing out
December
A new FIRB regime to keep the national security hawks caged
December
By James Laurenceson
Note: This article appeared in the Australian Financial Review, August 25 2016.
Last week Treasurer Scott Morrison officially killed off the prospect of foreign investors taking a 50.4 per cent share of the lease to operate NSW electricity distributor Ausgrid, citing national security risks.
Ausgrid hawks have poor record on Chinese security threats
December
By James Laurenceson
This article originally appeared in the Australian Financial Review, August 9 2016.
The potential sale of NSW electricity distributor Ausgrid to a Chinese company is bedevilled by questions about national security. On Sunday Treasurer Scott Morrison said those questions will be his "prime consideration" in deciding whether to allow the deal to go ahead.
Chinese investment: Stay calm and ignore the defence hawks
December
By James Laurenceson
Note: This article originally appeared in the Lowy Interpreter, July 28 2016.
The lights are still on in Manila.
That must come as quite a surprise to defence hawks who like to beat the drum that the sale of New South Wales electricity distributor Ausgrid to a Chinese company could compromise our national security and be contrary to the national interest.
Don't believe Chinese worker Free Trade Agreement scaremongering
December
By James Laurenceson
Note: This article originally appeared in the Australian Financial Review, June 9 2016.
Remember those claims from some trade unions last year that the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA) would allow Chinese companies to bring in their own workers?