Too dependent on China?

I cannot answer that question with a simple "yes" or "no" even though I was asked to do just that a couple of  days ago. 

The question was asked by someone doing some political campaigning for a minor candidate in a shopping centre. I don't know what they were trying to do unless it was gain support for their far left policies - which would certainly be pro-Beijing.

Let it be said here that I am the proud godmother of a child of Chinese heritage. She is an adult now but I still sometimes feel overwhelmed by the honour which was bestowed on me when her parents asked me to do that. They are of course Christian rather than Communist and they do not live in China. Still, it is an honour when they had so many friends and even family who could have filled that role. 

And, like me, they have some doubts about the role China is now playing in the world. Like me there are things they believe have to change.

China currently owns around 3% of the land mass of this country. Individual Chinese own more. China also controls two major ports and has controlling interests in more through other companies. The Chinese also own some major energy producers and many other  smaller but still important enterprises. Understandably they want to get their hands on our telecommunication networks. Ownership of such things would mean they would be able to control us for what is really a small investment in global terms. 

As I pointed out recently the Premier of a neighbouring state had to be prevented from "borrowing" money from China for a major infrastructure project. It would effectively have handed control of that state to China if anything had gone wrong. You don't simply say to the Chinese, "No, we can't pay but the federal authorities will." 

The Chinese were recently permitted to buy a small island off the east coast of the country. It is supposedly a resort but it seems that we are not welcome there. This has raised some questions about the true purpose to which the island is being put. The rumours are no doubt being fuelled by the very recent  incident in which a Chinese warship aimed a powerful military grade laser at a plane belonging to our airforce. Yes, the ship was in international waters - but inside our economic zone.  It was an aggressive act. 

China appears to be trying to take over in ways which will allow them to exert sufficient control that we will do as they want. I don't think they are there yet - but they could be if we allow them to bully us. At present they are the bully in our part of the schoolyard of global trade. We need to make other friends. It's possible but it is going to be hard work. We could end up being much more dependent if we aren't careful. 

My answer for now has to be, "Yes, we are too dependent in many ways" and "No, we don't need to be - if we work at it."