The post-War order is meant to provide a check on the untrammelled power of the powerful, whether through military invasions or more subtle ways of bending the will of other countries—methods such as interference, coercion and malicious cyber intrusions.
Yet when asked recently how Australia would address China’s influence in the Pacific, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said, ‘China’s doing what great powers do, and great powers try to lift their influence and expand their influence in the region that they wish.’
[…]
The type of influence China exercises is not something we can accept as simply ‘what great powers do’. It launched a cyber attack on the Pacific Islands Forum, spreads online disinformation in the Pacific to undermine democracies and weaken Pacific partnerships, sought security agreements that lack public transparency, and undertaken various other malicious activities—such as hybrid and grey zone operations.
And that’s just in the Pacific—China is carrying out this malicious activity globally, not to mention being the main supporter enabling Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Of course, other significant powers seek influence, but responsible nations don’t behave like this.
[…]
This is somehow related:
China and the South China Sea: Tailoring history to propaganda
Not our friend.
While we were suffering the horrendous fires in Jan 2020 China sent government gangs to Australia to buy all our Personal protection and medications . They were buying it because they knew that Covid was out of control before they even told the rest of the world.
And China was one of the only countries that didn’t give any help or aid at all regarding the bushfire tragedies. Even tiny poor Pacific island countries helped us.
Friends don’t lie. Friends don’t deceive. Friends help. China is no friend.
China shouldn’t get any concessions from the west.
Oh, and fuck youse guys for stealing all the fish .
There is no altruism with China. Never will be or has. When they tried to kick up a big fuss for Australia swapping hand sanitizer with filter medium for masks back when COVID was starting was the end of it for me. We don’t need to be compatible or should we strive to be. Enforce our boundary with 0 tolerance and decrease reliance on them really needs to happen to assure supply chain stability.
This account seems to only post news stories critical of the Chinese government, I only noticed after the three posted here in such a short time.
That’s not a comment on their accuracy, just be aware the poster is deliberately spreading propaganda with a very narrow focus.
Of course, other significant powers seek influence, but responsible nations don’t behave like this. The United States for instance, as the longstanding international superpower, has built enormous global influence. But—notwithstanding its share of mistakes—it has done so overwhelmingly by cultivating alliances and genuine partnerships based on shared values and a common desire to improve conditions in the world and to the benefit of the citizens of their partner nations.
I wonder what mistakes they could possibly be referring to.
