Australia Has Chance At New Godfather - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: SgtRock
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 27, 2012, 10:52:19 pm
content: Greetings EEVBees:--A well know Australian once said "America is the world leader in bat-shit crazy government, politics, financial excess, and international bullying."--Australia has traditionally depended on alliances for defense, as it saves a great deal of money over actually giving the Military what it actually needs to mount a credible defense. This assumes, for the sake of argument only, mind you, that the pacifists are wrong, and that the possibility of Bullying by someone other than the US exists. Let me add, Aussie Warriors are at least as good as any in the world. There just are not enough of them, absent either alliances or greatly increased military spending.--Now it turns out that Australia has a knight astride a white horse riding to the rescue, and offering to help get it out from under the thumb of that International Bully. See the below for link to an article in The Age, and a redacted quote.http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/political-news/chinese-official-its-us-or-america-20120515-1yp5f.html"AUSTRALIA cannot juggle its relationships ... indefinetely and must choose a ''godfather'' to protect it ... The warning by Song Xiaojun, a former senior officer of the People's Liberation Army, comes after Foreign Minister Bob Carr was told by his Chinese counterpart that Australia's close military alliance with the US was a throwback to the Cold War era. Senator Carr yesterday met the man expected to become China's next premier, Li Keqiang, in Beijing. Discussions centred on more comfortable matters including furthering trade and investment and the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations. But Australia's strategic position in the Asia-Pacific region remains contentious. "Australia has to find a godfather sooner or later," Mr Song told The Age. "Australia always has to depend on somebody else, whether it is to be the 'son' of the US or 'son' of China," he said. " depends on who is more powerful, and based on the strategic environment." Mr Song said Australia depended on exporting iron ore to China "to feed itself", but had not done enough to engage. "Frankly, it has not done well politically," he said."--So far, anyway this offer of a new Godfather appears to be one that can be refused. Unlike the offer previously made to Tibet."I could be bounded in a nutshell, and count myself a king of infinite space, were it not that I have bad dreams."Hamlet, scene ii.Best RegardsClear Ether

author: vk6zgo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 27, 2012, 11:34:01 pm
content: One would think that the "People's Republic" would be a bit less ready to mess in the affairs of smaller countries.Some years back Vietnam did something to upset them,so they set out to "teach 'em a lesson".They got bundled back across the border in short order,with a badly bitten bum.In Australia,we have Red Back spiders,they're not very big,but their bite leaves you feeling sorry for yourselves for quite a while." Mr Song said Australia depended on exporting iron ore to China "to feed itself"The gentleman has no idea of history--for many years Australia sold enormous quantities of wheat to China,because that country could not "feed itself".

author: SgtRock
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 28, 2012, 12:11:19 am
content: Dear VK6ZGO:--Good point. As Mick Dundee says "I don't mean to put down your black widow spider, but the funnelweb spider can kill a man in eight seconds, just by lookin' at him."--The clash between North and South Vietnam had historical roots that were at least 4 centuries old. Some of the Vietnamese, concentrated in the South were "Chinese Ethnics". They spoke Vietnamese and had been there for generations. They tended to be good at business and open to foreign trade, being located along the coasts. The North hated these relative newcomers and coveted their wealth, and a low level conflict had been going on for centuries. After America withdrew from the War, the last thing the Chinese expected was a genocidal pogrom against the "Chinese Ethnics" also known as "Jews of Asia", soon to become dead or "boat people". So China started invading it erstwhile ally, which was freshly armed with Russia's best and able to fight a tenacious holding action. Soon China found the "imperialism" shoe on the other foot, and a comeuppance in the offing. Leaked NSA intercepts indicated that the PLA was discussing the use of "firecrackers" I.E. neutron bombs, but cooler heads prevailed and they took their licking and kept on ticking. Here in Orlando we got a new neighborhood called Little Saigon, a lot of new very good "Chinese" restaurants, and whole lot of hard working, law abiding citizens. Bonus!--If they had to the Auzzies could arm up, and they would be fine against anything short of Nuclear."Does not squirrel crack nuts on bough of oak tree."Lao Fu 1410 1620Best RegardsClear Ether

author: vk6zgo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 28, 2012, 12:56:14 pm
content: During the 1939-1945 war,(it was the 1931-1949 war for poor old China,if you include the Civil War),Australia not only fed its own people & troops,but contributed greatly to the feeding of the UK,so the"can't feed themselves" comment is double nonsense.Of course,the gentleman is a military man,& hence,thinks in military terms,rather than economic ones.China doesn't buy iron ore from Australia because they are such really nice chaps,but because they need the iron to make stuff to sell,mainly to their principal trading partner, the USA ,so it is bit incongruous for them to try to "warn us off" having close relations with the same country.

author: vk6zgo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 29, 2012, 12:17:22 pm
content: Quote from: SgtRock on October 28, 2012, 12:11:19 amInteresting,Sarge.So China became an unlikely "White Knight" in the above situation,just as Vietnam itself did in removing Pol Pot's regime in Cambodia.Life is weird,isn't it?