One billion tonnes of Chinese steel: Rio and BHP aren’t alone in their optimism
December
Note: This article appeared in The West Australian on May 18 2015.
Fortescue boss Twiggy Forrest didn’t hold back: last week he accused the big miners of having a “callous disregard for Australia”. Treasurer Joe Hockey said he was sympathetic to Forrest’s position. Senator Nick Xenaphon called for a Senate inquiry. A parliamentary inquiry of some sort looks like getting the nod.
The banquet has only just begun for Queensland
December
By James Laurenceson
Note: This article appeared in The Courier Mail, November 19 2014.
The world leader most important to Queensland has just left the building. And it wasn’t Barack Obama or Shinzo Abe. Chinese President, Xi Jinping, thanks for stopping by.
When China overtook Japan to become Australia’s largest customer for goods exports five years ago, Queensland remained a bastion of the old order. At the end of 2008, Queensland’s goods exports to Japan were five-and-a-half times the value of China. Those to Korea and India doubled China as well.
Australia-China free trade only a first step to real partnership
December
China’s third quarter figures beat expectations but fall short of a knockout
December
The global economy breathed a sigh of relief last month with the release of China’s third quarter growth numbers. The result of 7.3 per cent was down from 7.5 per cent in the previous quarter but came in a touch above consensus forecasts. The result was sufficiently robust for worries about a hard landing to retreat significantly.
Abbot’s awkward APEC moment over Asian infrastructure bank
December
Forget shirt-fronting Russian President Vladimir Putin. Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s most challenging task this week will be breaking an uncomfortable silence with Chinese President Xi Jinping. And he will have to do it twice: first at the APEC meeting in Beijing and again at the G20 in Brisbane.
ANZUS call to arms would fail the pub test
December
By Bob Carr
Note: This article appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald on November 14 2014.
In the East China Sea, where five islands are disputed between China and Japan, military aircraft could collide in the crowded skies. A ship could be sunk by accident. Roaming fishing fleets and cruise liners complicate the scenarios.
Australian manufacturing must refocus on knowledge-based goods and not blame China for industry woes
December
By James Laurenceson and Roy Green
With "Made in China" labels everywhere, the villain in the decline of Australian manufacturing appears easy to spot. But a closer look reveals that Chinese imports have been responsible for little of manufacturing's woes. Moreover, China is shaping up as a source of salvation in the future, and not in the way we may imagine.
Look to China’s productivity gains, not headline growth figures
December
China’s economy grew by 7.3% during the third quarter of 2014, meeting market expectations.
Polling by Reuters and the Wall Street Journal put the consensus forecast at 7.2-7.3%, the slowest pace in more than five years.
But to see where China is really headed, a closer look needs to be taken at its productivity.
Don’t blame Chinese buyers for Australia’s real estate boom
December
Last week I argued that blaming Chinese money for the worsening real estate affordability in Australia was off the mark (The property bubble myth that refuses to die, 14 October 2014).
Caution on the East China Sea
December
By Bob Carr
Note: This article appeared in The Australian Financial Review on October 16 2014.
As Australia’s Foreign Minister I had quoted several times an acute observation by Lee Kuan Yew. It was on the question of the future character of China. He said: