Chinese officialdom is clearly getting concerned

that the Downunder government is not listening to demands to drop demands for an inquiry into the origins of the Covid19 virus.

The Chinese recently slapped an 80% tariff on barley, a large proportion of which is shipped to China. It has been a huge blow to our grain farmers. Along with this have been all sorts of other trade issues. Goods seem to get out of China easily enough but getting them in is another story.  (I sent a small parcel to someone in Kunming. It took seven weeks and three days to arrive. It had been opened and one completely innocuous item had been removed.)

And now Chinese officialdom is accusing Downunder of "dumping" wine and the wine industry being of "subsidised" by the Downunder government. Chinese officials plan to hold an "inquiry". The likely outcome is causing consternation among those who export to China. 

China is a lovely market to have of course - and the Chinese are well aware of that. Downunder should never have allowed itself to become so dependent on it. 

The problems began back in the Whitlam era government. Whitlam went off to China and met people. Downunder started to do business there. It started to do business with very little idea of how business worked there then. Downunder has not much more idea of how business works there now. One thing however is crystal clear. You do business according to the rules laid down by China. These are non-negotiable. 

I know someone in the wool industry who set up a plant in China. It took years of negotiation, of work, of "paying" for certain services, of doing things the way the Chinese wanted. Three years ago he was warned not to return to China under any circumstances. He would be put in prison. He hasn't paid all the necessary bribes - which would just about bankrupt him there. What the Chinese have effectively done is use his expertise and the work he has done. Now that they feel they no longer need him they have simply taken over. 

Before you say, "That's hardly fair" let me point out that this is not at all unusual. Some Chinese do not hesitate to do it to their fellow countrymen. Doing the same to a foreigner is commonplace.  

But, somehow, Downunder has never managed to learn this lesson. People keep hoping it will be "different" for them.They do not want to acknowledge that China will always try to make contractual arrangements which give them complete control - not just between China and Downunder or any other country but between other countries as well. "If you want to do business with us and you also want to do business with X.... then you will do business with X... through us or do it our way."

And then we come to the proposed inquiry into the Covid19 issue. That we would even dare to question the origins of the problem let alone even hint that China might need to take some responsibility for it is of course completely unacceptable. If any responsibility needs to be taken then it is almost certain that some laboratory workers have already paid the highest possible price.  The Chinese see no need for an inquiry now. We should just get on doing business with them - on their terms. 

So far the Downunder government has not given in. Other governments are supporting the call. An inquiry is needed. This is a pandemic that has had an unbelievable impact of not just the world economy but on the way of life of everyone around the world. If China is in any way responsible or partly responsible then they should, like all other nations, be held to account - but I am not holding my breath over this.