No doubt the President of Nauru and his political mates have had a very healthy boost to their Swiss bank accounts.   

Beijing points finger at Japan over sonar attack on Australian warship HMAS Toowoomba

Brian Ross wrote on Jan 17^th, 2024 at 4:27pm:


To paraphrase Ms Rice-Ravies, well they would, wouldn't they? 

China's foreign minister says Taiwan independence biggest threat to Sino-US ties

Chinese court sentences Australian Yang Hengjun to death with two-year good behaviour reprieve

China opens first Antarctic research station due south of Australia and New Zealand

Brian Ross wrote on Feb 27^th, 2024 at 1:52pm:


Far from wanting tariffs lifted, we should be banning all exports to China until they understand their actions are unacceptable.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong warns against conflict as tensions rise in South China Sea

Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Junior wanted direct phone line to Xi Jinping to avoid South China Sea conflict

China's government officially abolishes heavy tariffs on Australian wine

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi visits PNG, saying Pacific nations aren't 'the backyard' of other countries

Manasseh Sogavare was China's man in the Pacific. Will his exit as prime minister reverberate across the region?

Australian helicopter forced to take evasive action after Chinese fighter detonates flares

Defence chief rejects China's spying accusation after helicopter's near miss in confrontation

With two days of military drills, Beijing makes clear its feelings about Taiwan's new president

China defence chief says Beijing ready to 'forcefully' stop Taiwan independence

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says China Premier Li Qiang will visit this week

China's Premier Li Qiang says ties are 'back on track' as he arrives in Australia

Anthony Albanese to meet China's Premier Li Qiang for high-level talks in Canberra

UnSubRocky wrote on Jun 16^th, 2024 at 11:35pm:


I believe both parties will seek to undermine any agreement reached, Unsub.

Brian Ross wrote on Jun 17^th, 2024 at 8:19pm:


Do you have an opinion on the matter, Brian? Rolling eyes emojis don't say much to the context of the story. You seem to be fishing for responses.

Australian government complains over Chinese embassy staff's 'clumsy' Cheng Lei obstruction

China expected to lift trade ban on Australian lobster imports shortly, says Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell

Philippines says it won't start a war, but won't yield 'to any foreign power' after clash in South China Sea

Solomon Islands MP calls for PM to shed light on country's $30 million budget rescue package from China

Taiwan holds unscripted war games simulating how to repel Chinese military offensive

Pacific Island nations owe 'astronomical' debts to China. Can they repay?

Australia joins defence exercise in contested South China Sea after Philippines deal with China to ease tensions

China has expanded its presence in Antarctica with its new Qinling base. Should Australia be worried?

Australia backs Taiwan in Senate motion likely to infuriate China

China, Philippines trade blame in latest South China Sea clash

Lowy Institute's Asia Power Index says China is chipping away at America's military might but its overall influence is plateauing

Chinese nuclear-powered attack submarine sank earlier this year, says senior US defence official

Chinese trade restrictions on Australian lobsters to be lifted before Chinese New Year

4 hours ago — China's military has started a new round of war games near Taiwan in a warning to the "separatist acts of Taiwan independence forces"

Xi Jinping brings the multi-billion-dollar charm in Peru, as Anthony Albanese calls for calm amongst leaders

Chinese President Xi Jinping snubs meetings with world leaders at APEC summit

Three Americans who the US deemed wrongly imprisoned in China have been released

Brian Ross wrote on Dec 2^nd, 2024 at 11:40am:


As long as the UN and US don't recognize Taiwan, China can ignore the separatists on Taiwan who will only succeed  in wasting resources on buying US weapons, and moving the island's wealth creating industries to the US,  to please the US.

Fools.   

Brian Ross wrote on Dec 3^rd, 2024 at 11:34am:


How is China bullying the democracies?

And the triumphalist  US - seeking global hegemony  - is the reason  Putin lost his mind.....Russia was willing to join NATO after the demise of the USSR.

Dumb Labor politician, falling for the "China threat" theory.   

Interestingly, China and India are sorting out their differences, while more countries want to join BRICS.

The days of a unipolar US-led world are over. 

Australia and New Zealand working together to monitor Chinese naval presence, declared 'provocative' by Coalition

Brian Ross wrote on Feb 21^st, 2025 at 3:37pm:


Seems China has followed standard protocol and notified Australian and NZ authorities of its intention to conduct the live fire exercise. Nothing unusual here, we and other navies do it all the time. Having received the notification the authorities issue a NOTAM (notice to airmen) and an NTM ( notice to mariners) warning aircraft and ships to avoid the area.  Every airline receives these as matter of course, even if they are not operating  near the area. 

What is unusual is conducting an exercise near a commercial flight path. if this is the case then they have deliberately escalated the tension.  More information is needed regarding the alleged course changes of the aircraft and whether they were forced as a result of this notification.

NZ defence minister warns of 'extremely capable' Chinese warships in Tasman Sea

Chinese warships re-enter Australia's Exclusive Economic Zone and head closer to Tasmania

Intelligence chief says Chinese warship deployment designed to be 'provocative'

thegreatdivide wrote on Feb 26^th, 2025 at 12:35pm:


Why then do we have Chinese warships patrolling in the Tasman Sea?  Why then do we have the Chinese acting as aggressively as they do in the South China Sea?  Your words are betrayed by PRC actions.  Tsk, tsk, tsk... 

thegreatdivide wrote on Feb 26^th, 2025 at 6:03pm:


Who is in a similar situation to Taiwan, Divide?  Why can't they limit their protest to around Taiwan, why do they have to protest in the Tasman Sea? Tsk, tsk, tsk...

Brian Ross wrote on Feb 26^th, 2025 at 8:02pm:


1. Because according to international rules,  other navies have a right to transit the Taiwan Strait, so China can  protest by its actions in the Tasman sea.

2. Because Oz is the 51st state of the US (or is it the 52nd...); and China is using the opportunity to show its naval prowess to the US who are annoying China by arming Taiwan.

At least  Marles  has some idea of balance in international affairs, unlike the paranoid RW fool Patterson who wants to attack the PM for not telling Australians about the vicinity of Chinese warships "quickly enough", and is banging on (like you) about sinister designs of the PLA navy who are acting - as noted by Marles -  acording to rules of international law, when the Oz navy regularly exercises on China's doorstep, also within the rules.... though the Chinese have objections to warships entering the Taiwan strait:

(wiki)

Since 2018 China has denied that the concept of international waters applies to the Taiwan Strait.[17] China does not claim sovereignty over the entire strait but seeks to regulate what it views as [u]"support for the Taiwan authorities and muscle-flexing against the mainland".

ie, support by the US and it allies, and you.....

Patterson has no capacity for a balanced view; he wants the right to send warships though the Taiwan Strait, while denying the PLA navy the same rights re international waters.

Fortunately, Trump is less willing to start WW3 over Taiwan; today when a reporter asked whether Trump would go to war to defend Taiwan, Trump answered  "I'm not going to tell you".

(And Trump well knows Xi's view on the matter, he has regular phone calls with him).

Unlike you delusional 'democracy is freedom' ideologues, Trump is more circumspect.....

 

Large drone spotted near border with PNG as Chinese warships passed nearby

Taipei replica in remote Chinese province fans Taiwan invasion fears

China sends more than 50 war planes near Taiwan as 'punishment' to separatism

China launches large-scale military drills around Taiwan in warning against push for independence

Timor-Leste open to participating in Chinese military exercises

China criticises Australia over joint exercises with Philippines, US in South China Sea

China accused of foreign interference in Solomon Islands after minister quits international group

Lowy report finds Pacific nations 'grappling with a tidal wave of debt repayments' to China

Brian Ross wrote on May 27^th, 2025 at 8:33pm:


This is what comes of accepting Chinese largesse....They will take payment in other ways when the cash is unable to be paid.   As the old Irish saying goes,  when you sup with the devil use a long spoon. 

Albanese bats away questions about Taiwan and US defence demands on first day of China visit

Australian concerns over live fire drill brushed aside in Xi meeting

Brian Ross wrote on Jul 22^nd, 2025 at 4:14pm:


Anyone with any military awareness understands that a PRC invasion of Taiwan will be an extremely difficult and high risk operation, even with modern technology.  Historically there are very few such large scale operations that have been a success.

These are probably just psychological warfare operations that are a part of the PRC campaign to undermine Taiwans resistance from within.

Taiwan says China is 'clearly' trying to interfere in its democracy ahead of recall vote