Australia may have tossed out an answer. Since it wants Magnitsky-style legislation, following the step of the US, it proves that Canberra is willing to be obedient to Washington, presenting the power to have final say to the US.
However, China underlines etiquette and good manners, loves peace and advocates harmony. Beijing has never taken the initiative to provoke other countries, nor is it interested in meddling in others' internal affairs. China will continue to stand for a peaceful settlement of disputes and divergences, rather than resort to tit-for-tat means.
The world construct has greatly changed. Whether or not the West will accept it, the belief the West is the center of the world will eventually come to an end.
As China-Australia relations have turned sour, the easiest card to play by Western MPs is to pressure China and fan the opinion flame. The latest show serves only these MPs' purpose of manipulating Western public opinion and exploiting political gains.
Until today, Australia still believes China is inferior, not qualified to criticize the superior Aussies. Nothing can better portray the mentality when Australia showed much greater anger toward a Chinese cartoon than the crimes of Australian soldiers in Afghanistan.
Europe will not treat China in an on-off way as it did during most of the time during the Cold War. Some ideological struggles could be strengthened, but there is not likely to be comprehensive hostility.
The wooing from the US and India has indeed exerted considerable pressure on these countries.
Now, Fakhrizadeh has been assassinated, and Iran believes Israel is responsible. Has a “Pandora's box” been opened again? Will the world return to the era of using terrorism to realize major national interests? Such regression is despicable and no one will come out as a winner.
If Canberra cannot reflect on its previous moves against China and make adjustments, improving China-Australia relations will be far from visible. At that time, Australians will know how it feels like to walk into the dark.
The list has only made itself look awkward. Imagine if there is a Chow-style secessionist in Scotland and Northern Ireland, will her name appear on the list? The UK, the US or other Western countries will never call a secessionist on their own soil a “hero.” The Chinese people have already seen through the trick. The list won't disturb China, but will eventually disgust the West itself.
Spelling out Australia's stance against taking sides in words is no olive branch, but proving such stance in deeds is. When Uncle Sam garners allies against Beijing and takes more actions to contain China, would Canberra respond with a loud “No”?
Chinese people do not expect the Morrison administration to truly reflect on their policy of acting as the US' auxiliary police. However, we hope that they can learn the necessary lessons, adopt more realistic policies and revise their previous behavior toward China. No matter how sincere Morrison's latest statement is, hopefully that it can be reflected in Australia's actions. Only then can China-Australia relations be improved.
Trump reportedly is ready to begin the formal transition process. This indicates that the US will commence to “correct” its policies of the past four years. The US tends to achieve a kind of balance by dramatic swing and confrontations. By contrast, continuity is the greatest strength of the Chinese political system.
With political interests as priority, they seek to impair China by further spreading the political virus. However, will they look more decent by putting on the emperor's new clothes?
The meeting can be seen as a new step taken by the Trump administration to stir trouble with China during the transition period. There have been many signs that the Trump administration will continue to take some extreme measures to jeopardize China-US relations. The Trump administration intends to create as many obstacles as possible for the next administration to shape the latter's China policy. The Tibet question is one of them.
What makes Australia not behave like itself is the US, not any other country. If Morrison wants his country to remain Australia, he should have said so to the US.
China, as the world's No.2 economy, is doing quite well balancing its “setbacks” and managing to “stand tall.” The proof of this assertion is: by strategically forging ahead, China has managed to keep growing stronger.
Dividing camps by ideology and engaging in a zero-sum game is an outdated Cold War mind-set. Win-win development is the theme of the era, and playing geopolitical tricks will be marginalized. With such a mentality, the US can hardly find followers.