- 28 Apr 2021 02:26
#15169666
Australia’s puerile and provocative war-mongering towards China is raising the risk of all-out military conflict
https://cdni.rt.com/files/2021.04/artic ... 690e40.JPG
Instead of seeking to engage in pragmatic dialogue – and recognising that China is a major world power while Australia isn’t – politicians in Canberra seem determined to indulge themselves in macho acts of aggression.
Australia’s relationship with China has been in a state of crisis for the past year, and relations have degenerated even further over the past two weeks – despite attempts by China to ease tensions.
Last week, Wang Xining, the Chinese deputy head of mission in Australia, took the unprecedented step of appearing at the National Press Club in Canberra to speak and answer questions at a forum about Australia’s current “China crisis.”
Unfortunately, the federal government’s response to Wang’s attempt to reopen meaningful dialogue has been characterised by the same Cold War rhetoric, arrogance and ineptitude that created the crisis in the first place.
Australian Home Affairs Secretary Michael Pezzullo (who is slated to become the new secretary of the Department of Defense) delivered an Anzac Day message to his staff.
In the context of referring to escalating tensions over Taiwan, Pezzullo opined that “the drums of war” were beating and that Australia must be prepared “to send off, yet again, our warriors to fight.” He asserted that Australia must become “armed, strong and ready for war” and lavishly praised the rabid Cold War warrior, General Douglas MacArthur.
It would be difficult to imagine a more irresponsible or inflammatory statement than this, or a more dangerous evocation of Cold War rhetoric.
Last week, the Chinese Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying: “We urge Australia to set aside its Cold War mentality and ideological bias, and view bilateral cooperation in an objective and rational light”.
Unfortunately, no one in the Australian government appeared to be listening.
https://cdni.rt.com/files/2021.04/artic ... 690e40.JPG
Instead of seeking to engage in pragmatic dialogue – and recognising that China is a major world power while Australia isn’t – politicians in Canberra seem determined to indulge themselves in macho acts of aggression.
Australia’s relationship with China has been in a state of crisis for the past year, and relations have degenerated even further over the past two weeks – despite attempts by China to ease tensions.
Last week, Wang Xining, the Chinese deputy head of mission in Australia, took the unprecedented step of appearing at the National Press Club in Canberra to speak and answer questions at a forum about Australia’s current “China crisis.”
Unfortunately, the federal government’s response to Wang’s attempt to reopen meaningful dialogue has been characterised by the same Cold War rhetoric, arrogance and ineptitude that created the crisis in the first place.
Australian Home Affairs Secretary Michael Pezzullo (who is slated to become the new secretary of the Department of Defense) delivered an Anzac Day message to his staff.
In the context of referring to escalating tensions over Taiwan, Pezzullo opined that “the drums of war” were beating and that Australia must be prepared “to send off, yet again, our warriors to fight.” He asserted that Australia must become “armed, strong and ready for war” and lavishly praised the rabid Cold War warrior, General Douglas MacArthur.
It would be difficult to imagine a more irresponsible or inflammatory statement than this, or a more dangerous evocation of Cold War rhetoric.
Last week, the Chinese Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying: “We urge Australia to set aside its Cold War mentality and ideological bias, and view bilateral cooperation in an objective and rational light”.
Unfortunately, no one in the Australian government appeared to be listening.