Australia taking China for granted

The world's greatest power (military and economic) as most see it at present has not missed any opportunity to show its contentions with its next arch rival China.  China has reached maturity in economic reforms and is looking ahead for more comprehensive governance. It has not dedicated sufficient time in addressing concerns of declared enemies and cold friends. This game willbenefit  neither China nor the West. 


Differences cannot be swept under the carpet. They must been talked about and resolved amicably. Concerns over Chinese acquisition of advanced technology has deprived the US of increasing export and close the chronic trade deficit problem. 
Similarly, Australia has also ruled out investments from Huawei on national security grounds. However, such issues have largely been ironed out or overlooked with such US investors. 


http://www.afr.com/p/technology/fortescue_chief_dragged_into_huawei_AF7FO9wwz63UedD664v2sO


On the other hand, America's good friend across the Pacific Ocean Australia has been ignoring China, given up business opportunities and learning, to its detriment, for the last 10 years and many years into the future.  Says Andrew Forrest who owns a notable mining conglomerate Fortescue Metals.  

http://www.perthnow.com.au/business/local-business/australia-taking-china-for-granted-andrew-forrest/story-e6frg2s3-1226330681528

Mr Forrest says Australia is not engaging with China ``anywhere near enough'', citing a lack of senior ministerial representation at what Boao Forum for Asia meetings.

``I see other countries with their senior ministers and prime ministers out there selling their own countries and I look around and say where is my country,'' Mr Forrest told reporters after speaking at a business lunch in Sydney on Tuesday.

``Now people don't need our legal services, they can get them elsewhere.

``They don't need our investment banking services, they can get them elsewhere.

``They don't need our resources, our energy. They can get them elsewhere, so let's not take it for granted,'' Mr Forrest said.

Mr Forrest's comments follow those of Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Secretary Dennis Richardson, who said last year that Australia's footprint in China was lagging behind comparable Western nations.

``If you go back 15 or 20 years, we were leading the pack in terms of representation. We've now fallen off the pack,'' Mr Richardson said in October.