Last week, saw President Trump make a massive fuss of Australia. Now, while I am flattered, I could not help but ask myself “ Why? “ Considering the Prime Minister of India, Mr Modi, was also in America at the very same time, why was Australia so honoured?
The Trump/ PM Modi joint Rally attracted 50,000 adoring fans and Trump applauded India’s Sovereign borders policy and talked of the Islamic threat. No doubt referencing the Pakistan Islamic militancy and the August revocation of Article 370 . in relation to Kashmir, a much disputed area important to Pakistan, India and China. It seems that Trump was implying support for India in this decision.
India and Pakistan have been playing silly buggers over Kashmir since 1949. Kashmir is the geographical and political lifeline of Pakistan, flow of trade to China and water to Pakistan.
Pakistan and India are at flashpoint over Kashmir and, without the military might of China, Pakistan would be easily overcome by the Indian military. An economic victory might be a better solution to a nuclear one and be more palatable to the global community.
When former cricketer Imran Khan became Leader of Pakistan, he led his nation to bankruptcy due to the massive indebtedness to China.
Like so many small Pacific Nations, Pakistan owes its soul to the company store, as the old song goes, and China stands like the drug dealer waving a cheque book full of drugs to the desperately addicted Nation.
Enter Adani and Australia.
India, which has such the 5th largest reserves of coal in the world wants to import Australian coal. The issue is that many of the reserves are under land that is built on and secondly, that it would cost a fortune to install the infrastructure such as rail to transport the coal from the mines to where it is needed. It is simply cheaper to import.
China has a slightly higher population than India- both Nations coming in at around 1.3 billion people. Surely a relationship with India would be better for Australia than that we currently have with China? We are both Commonwealth Nations, both speak English and both Democracies.
In terms of Military might, one should not forget that India has the 4th most powerful military in the world, coming in under USA, Russia and China.
An alliance between India and USA would be highly advantageous on so many levels – trade, militarily and geographically. In fact, India could replace China in terms of importation of manufactured goods to America… and to Australia.
Meanwhile, in waters closer to Australia, China has been flexing its muscles in the South China Sea and busily building “ atolls” – and claiming ownership of them. On September 2nd of this year, the first ASEAN-US Maritime Exercise (AUMX) between the regional bloc and America lasted for five days. The hotly disputed area around the Spratly Islands challenges the central area which is International Waters and open for the passage of ships to and from the area. With China building airfields, troop accommodation, ports and other infrastructure on these man made atolls, they are claiming ownership of this area – which also has VAST oil and natural gas reserves.
So this brings me back to Australia. A country that is in the middle of a region that is being bought by China and it is in itself in danger of passing the point of no return when it comes to that drug dealers metaphoric cheque book.
With our Universities catering to the needs of Chinese students; our reliance on Chinese trade; our leasing and sale of our agricultural land and strategic infrastructure to China is alarming.
Should Trump’s trade war with China continue to wreak havoc on China’s economy, Australia could seemingly be left up the creek without a paddle. In truth China is as dependent on Australia as Australia is on China.
Australia is the Pacific ally that Trump wants to keep on side. But we are not that militarily important that we deserve such pomp and ceremony.
AUSTRALIA FALLS. THE PACIFIC FALLS.
Trump values Australia because China values it.
By Trump highlighting Australia at the same time as honouring India, he sent a very clear message to China: America is in charge and China had better pull its head in.
Australia could easily replace most of its trade with China by entering in to new agreements with India.
We could also replace our cruel Indonesian Cattle export with USA …
Trump is better at the Art of the Deal than they are and he will use Australia and India to show them how it is done.
Without blackmail.
For Morrison, he is getting “ woke “ , becoming a bloke and getting a pair of balls. And I think he is going to need them.
It is well worth re watching this speech from Mike Pence back in 2018 - it was a very important speech and touches on much of what is coming to pass.
