Originally Posted by
Greatsouthernland
Hi Disco,
I think stable relations with both China and Japan is good for Australia. I don't think Tony should say anything to upset current Japan relations or as you put it risk the current free trade deal. BUT similarly I don't think he should say something on the subject that is akin to expressing an opinion on the dispute.
Simply, the territorial dispute goes back hundreds if not thousands of years, before Australia had a spot in the G20 or before we allowed women to vote :wasntme:, basically it's territory we know nothing about as it's not part of our history, similarly Hong Kong, Taiwan and Tibet. The US stand on Taiwan is a joke, it flys in the face of the UN and China's permanent seat officially recognised as the Communist Party / PRC. Just because the Nationalist party fled to Taiwan (Chinese territory) and the Communist Party won the civil war, it doesn't mean that Taiwan no longer exists as part of China :eek: BUT that's what the US was told by the Nationalists and it took 20 years for the UN to recognise that the Nationalists weren't the representative political party of China. This is the same as Labor whining that that they were unfairly beaten, even though the people didn't support them and then take Canberra by force and then bleat on to all who would listen (such as the ABC) that they are the true voice of the people (well sort of, with a bit of satirical license from my part).
Another reason Australia should stay out of it - China and the US are 'permanent' members of the UN Security Council. They should be big enough and mature enough to work it out diplomatically (although from what I've seen, I have my doubts :mad: ) who are we to give an opinion, let alone make a declaration of support for the party that wanted to invade us not very long ago...I can't understand it.
Oh yeh sorry, back to the currency bit, yes printing more money certainly is not good for the whole economy, but the US have no other strategy. It is also not good for those countries that hold debt in US dollars (such as China) as that amount continues to be worth less as more US currency is printed.
I'm no economist or particularly aligned to any political party, but I'm 5th generation Australian and not too pleased with a recent adversary such as Japan rebuilding military strength under the watch of the US who was supposed to be in this area to make sure that DIDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. :censored:
Sometimes the yanks just meddle too much and we don't say, look fellas, stop fighting and get back to doing cool stuff like space travel and cool science FFS.
Phew, end of rant :p