Labor has a big problem, via Domainfax:
Former Victorian premier John Brumby says diplomatic tensions between Canberra and Beijing need to be resolved or the Australian economy could face long-term damage, warning there is a particular danger of isolation if the United States and China ultimately settle their own economic and strategic differences.
…”I think there’s a prevailing view that, one way or another, the US and China will come to some agreement. They have to come to some agreement. They are the two biggest economies in the world and I think both their leaders understand that, for the world economy to do well, those two economies need to co-exist,” Mr Brumby told Fairfax Media.
…Any push to mend relations could suffer a setback if Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei is barred from providing technology for Australia’s 5G networks based on national national security concerns. The rejection is reportedly likely. Mr Brumby, a director on the board of Huawei’s Australian board, declined to comment on the matter.
At the very moment that the Huawei decision is being debated, how is Brumby coming out now not commenting on the issue?
His views are being amplified by the usual China flunkies, including Junket Jen Hewitt at the AFR, queen of the Andrew Forrest funded free China holiday:
Last Tuesday, Huawei Australia’s chairman, independent directors and senior staff gathered at the company’s Chatswood headquarters for a crucial strategy meeting on 5G.
With a federal government decision on participation in the new mobile network looming, the directors concluded a radically different approach to its traditionally low-key public and political presence was required.
Huawei, they decided, should fight head-on the “whispering campaign” being waged against it in Canberra on security grounds. The letters and fact sheet sent to all federal MPs and senators Monday arguing Huawei’s case are part of that now very public change in tactics.
Why is it every China apologist in the country is on the take in some way? This double-dealing is exactly what is getting Labor in trouble on foreign policy. Recall the story so far:
- the Labor Right has gobbled up the China bribe;
- the Labor Left is obsessing over racism instead of the national interest;
- The Coalition has gotten on the front foot to address foreign influence via legislation while Labor has allowed itself to be positioned as resisting the bill.
- Conflicted Labor legends (Carr, Keating) are openly advocating moving further under Chinese skirts while the Coalition has ex-SAS heroes risking their careers to keep the issue of foreign influence on the front burner in parliament.
- Labor has very senior policy makers extolling the virtues of “Asianisation” while the Coalition houses Australia’s self-appointed champions of liberal civilisation (albeit most of them are nuts).
- The Coalition is mulling cuts to mass immigration, Labor wants to boost it further.
- Labor is overrun by political correctness apologists. The Coalition is not.
- Labor has a history of wavering in its commitment to ANZUS, the Coalition does not.
- Labor has an ethnic Chinese foreign minister that Beijing will lay claim to whether she likes it or not (it claims all ethnic Chinese as its own). The Coalition does not.
- Labor is Left. So is the Chinese Communist Party.
- Labor is divided on China. The Coalition is not.
I mean, talk about missing a shift in the zeitgeist.
With its small army of paid China apologists, it’ll only take a mild blow on the dog whistle to arouse deep suspicions of Labor in the electorate.
