China A 'Military Threat' to Australia, According to New Poll

[Boats]

China A 'Military Threat' to Australia, According to New Poll
By: Phil Mercer - VOA Asia News - 06-29-22
Re: https://www.voanews.com/a/china-a-mi...l/6637802.html

SYDNEY —
A vast majority of Australians now see China as a military threat to their country, according to a respected Sydney-based research organization. Russia’s war in Ukraine has also been identified as a major security concern in a recently released survey by the Lowy Institute that says Australians are worried about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the potential for conflict between China and Taiwan.

The poll released Monday has also shown that trust in China and confidence in its President, Xi Jinping, is at record lows in Australia.

Natasha Kassam is the Lowy Institute’s polling director. She told VOA the poll reflects a growing sense of apprehension in Australia.

“In 2022, Australians are most concerned about China and the potential for a war over Taiwan between the United States and China. This is really looming large for Australians after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which I think was a reminder for most Australians that they should not take their safety and security for granted.”

Australia has fallen out with China in recent years over significant geopolitical issues, including Beijing’s territorial ambitions in the South China Sea and the COVID-19 pandemic. Australia’s call for an investigation into the origins of COVID-19 became a source of intense friction.

It was first detected in China, but Beijing saw Australia’s demand for a global inquiry as criticism of its handling of the virus. In apparent retaliation, China imposed restrictions of a range of Australian imports, including restrictions on coal and wine.

Kassam says many Australians worry what China might do in the future.

“Three-quarters of the Australian public say that China may pose a military threat to Australia in the next two decades. It really shows that while Australians are focused on the potential for conflict in the region whether that be in Taiwan or over other disputed areas, they are really concerned about the way in which China has been treating Australia.”

The recently elected Canberra government is attempting to sooth tensions with China, which is Australia’s biggest trading partner.

But analysts have said fresh tensions have emerged recently as Beijing attempts to boost its security and trade presence in the Pacific, an area Australia regards as its traditional sphere of influence.

The Lowy Institute survey indicates strong support for the Australia-U.S. alliance that dates back to the early 1950s.

Eighty-seven percent of respondents said they saw the alliance as “very” or “fairly” important, a nine-point increase from last year.

However, the survey indicates that while military ties with the United States are the bedrock of Australia’s national security, they are considered to be both a strength and a potential weakness because they could “drag” Australia into a war in Asia.

The Lowy Institute poll samples the views of about 2,000 people. The annual survey began in 2005.

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CAUTION TO AUSTRALIA:
Personal note: To Australia - you run your own country now- but giving
China entry into your country - should be considered only the first step.

From there on they will slowly take over just about everything. At first
they will make and sell copied products made by Australians. Then you
will be buying their reverse engineered products from them with labels
Made in China for less money. Copy's won't last that long but less money.
They did to American's same will happen to you as well.
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They are manipulators and con-artist - and will over-whelm you with
smiles and kindness - and at the same time overrun your economy -
and make profit from their so-called business operations.
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Once they are in - you will see a slow but gainful mixed operations -
of Made In China Products will overwhelm you - and so much for built
by Australia products. Chinese are slick operators - and that's it.
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You can't compete with them - they will cut their prices and monopolize
the a copy - for less - and still make a profit - and so much for Autralian
made products in a short period of time.
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We saw this in the US - and it took away small Mom and Pop business's
and made in USA labels disappeared quickly. Even today we suffer
from their ability to reverse engineer anything made in USA and/or
its originally made USA products. They will cut your prices by 50%
and still profit from their goods - people buy on cost nowadays.
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Maybe they will have some Chinese Kangeroo's - ya never know!
Anything you make - they can reverse engineer - and sell for less
- hence their people pay less and China has money in their pockets.
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Don't say I didn't tell you -
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