Ziad wrote:I don't think we would like if china started meddling in our internal politics.
If?Mate, China has been meddling in this country, and others, for decades.
They buy dodgy politicians like Andrew Rob and Sam Dastyari, they have "students" working influence in our universities, they use various corporate cut-outs to influence industry.
The ABC News website has been blocked from China for bringing these and other instances to light.
When Australia has revealed these or complained, China accuses us of racism and trouble making, just like Israel does when anyone anywhere calls them out over their crimes against the Palestinians.
I'm not quite paranoid enough to believe they'll try a boots on the ground invasion here, despite your belief otherwise, they know the US couldn't afford to let that happen.
Unlike Western politicians, who are deeply dependent on a short electoral cycle, and only think as far ahead as the end of their own career, the Chinese think and plan 50-100 years ahead.
What you say about "face" is correct, albeit in a different way. The Middle Kingdom as they were called was an economic powerhouse a couple of hundred years ago, at it's height during the Qing Dynasty when the British started the First Opium War to take control of trade and was finished off during the Second Opium War.
They have never forgotten or forgiven this, and the new Emperor Xi is determined to restore the face lost.
They strongly embrace the old Scottish saying "Softly, softly, catch the monkey" and we are just one of the monkeys.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles ... s-meddlinghttp://amp.abc.net.au/article/9810236https://www.afr.com/news/politics/world ... 104-h0dr2r