Contributed by Joe Montero

The reaction to an image tweeted by a relatively junior Chinese public servant has been excessive. The image may not have been entirely appropriate. it remains nevertheless, a graphic aimed at conveying an opinion about the findings of the Brereton report, which detailed that some soldiers did murder innocent civilians in Afghanistan.

This is what the image portrayed and did so in a brutal form. The focus on it has buried the real story of murder. It has enabled a propaganda offensive to distract attention.

Ignoring the context is dishonest. Blaming the Chinese government for the posting is even worse.

This didn’t get in the way of Scott Morrison demanding an official government apology. He knew it wouldn’t come. Apologising would have put the Chinese government is the position of saying it was behind it. They are not so stupid.

Scott Morrison knows this and his demand for a Chinese an apology was aimed at manufacture a new political scandal.

Why do this? to cover domestic problems, and rising concern over Australia’s role as a pawn in United States Foreign policy.

The image in question

A major characteristic of social media is that it has made communication somewhat more democratic, and that all sorts of opinions turn up on it. Even if it does favour those with the resources to buy a bigger say, it still provides a platform, for those locked out of more traditional media.

Beating up this case has brought an opportunity again to air fiction, about some elaborate Chinese machine churning out the ‘fake news’ routinely claimed by Rupert Murdoch’s media and Donald Trump.

Why would the Chinese government bother? They have hundreds of millions of citizens willing to post opinions on their own initiative.

Most Chinese citizens support their government, and the Communist Party of China has enormous standing. there is a particularly good reason for this.

I have traveled through China many times and had the advantage of being able to talk to all sorts of people about their opinions. One message is clear. Most believe the government and Party have provided them with a better life and opportunities for the future.

No other nation has ever achieved the same level of modernisation and lifting of the standard of living for its population at a faster rate.

Consider these observations.

I have witnessed a shift in diet from a frugal dependence on rice as the staple, mixed with mostly vegetables. Meat is now the staple and rice has become a side dish.

A typical household was one where three generations shared a two-bedroom dwelling. Parents and children sharing a three-bedroom dwelling is the new norm.

China has become the number one tourist nation on the planet. This means, its citizens can afford to travel.

I know there are those who do not want to hear this, and in their denial will brand me as a patsy of the Chinese communists. But truth remains truth. It doesn’t give a fig about political prejudices, or whether you’re for or against the Chinese political system

The purpose for the present propaganda barrage is to promote the fear of China among Australians, through sowing distrust.

Australia does not face a Chinese threat. But we do face a threat from continuing economic and social policies that are damaging the future of everyday Australians, the wilful spreading of the politics of race hate and division, and the erosion of democratic rights. These are our realities and what warrants our collective attention.

A political bent on championing ongoing Western supremacy with the United States at its head, drives our nation to a dead end.

This era of Western supremacy is slipping away.

It is being to be replaced, by a world where other nations in Asia, Latin American and Africa, are finding their voices and rewriting the balance of power.

Instead of fearing it, Australia should be embracing the change.

In both size and per capita income, China’s economy is set to overtake that of the United States within 5 to 10 years.

China is now the European Union’s and Russia’s number one trading partner, and the positive trading relationship with most Asian, pacific, African, and Latin American nations is going from strength to strength.   

Australia is only a bit player on the world stage, and China is not over concerned with what Australia does. They don’t need us. J

The blocking of some Australian exports came as a reaction to the blocking of Chinese imports into Australia. The pressuring of two Australian journalists from China was a reaction to the expulsion of Chinese journalists from Australia.

These actions by the Australian government have been accompanied with a series of unsubstantiated accusations and demands.

Trouble is, if you keep poking someone in the eye, they might just get sick of it.

If Australia ongoing intransigence ends up locking us out of trade with China, it it may well spread to being losing trade with other nations, concerned with building their own relationships inthe new era.

Even the United States. That’s where China is buying its barley now, and where Australian exports are mostly not welcome.

Is going down this anti-China road in Australia’s interest? Those who peddle this, threaten us with grave economic and social damage.

It is time to stop the sabre rattling. Seeking a balanced and proper relationship with China is not a surrender. It’s about politically growing up as a nation.

Australia would be much better served by a world where no power dominates and all are treated eaqualy.

Political differences should not get in the way of this goal.

Defending our own independence and ability to make our own decisions is an important principle.

We all live in the same world, and it is only if we work together, that we can successfully take on the economic, social, and climate warming challenges we face.