The trip to China was a disaster

in the making. Our "pretty boy" Prime Minister achieved nothing at all.

The trip looked like a success on the surface. We saw the PM on the Great Wall and with the pandas returned from our local zoo. He had meetings with people who would appear to be important to our trade relations. 

Why then do I say it was a disaster in the making? It is because he kowtowed to the Chinese "aristocracy" all the way. He will say "issues" were raised but in reality they were not. There was no evidence at all of any of the tensions there should be between this country and that one. Our PM tried to "steer a middle path". 

Let's face it China is not a friend.  It may appear to be but it has no reason to be a friend. We were slapped down and punished when a former Prime Minister dared to suggest there should be an investigation into the origins of Covid19.  It was a perfectly reasonable suggestion but he was the one who was blamed for the subsequent sanctions which harmed the economy. There was never any suggestion by this PM that his Chinese friends might be being unreasonable. He dares not criticise out of fear.

It seems everyone is like that. Attempts to put any sort of restraint on the Chinese economy are not working. The Chinese economy is faltering and those in power are worried about what the increasing number of unemployed people might do. They are worried about a falling birth rate and an aging population. The war in Ukraine is a blessing for them. It is diverting attention from their moves in the east. There is every possibility that they will one day make the unexpected but expected move on Taiwan. When it happens there is every possibility that the rest of the world will do nothing. Nobody wants to upset such a powerful country.

Our relationship with China is far more beneficial to them than it is to us. If it was not that way then it would not exist as it now does. Only they can dictate the terms of trade and investment. Our  puny efforts to provide "security" in Pacific island communities are only tolerated because the Chinese know they could simply walk in and take over if they wished to do so.

China is our largest trading partner. The Chinese have made sure of that and they believe they can keep it that way. They want us to be dependent on them. With the current PM this is working and working extremely well. He is doing their bidding and trying to make it believe it is solely for our benefit. In reality it is for their benefit.  We need to be worried about this.