China: Tribute where tribute is due

In 2012, Australia’s federal government led by Prime Minister Julia Gillard released a White Paper on “Australia in the Asian Century.” This included a list of ambitious but worthwhile targets for Asia-engagement by 2025, none of which now appears attainable except for reaching national income of about A$73,000 per person.

But this is not causing the concern that ordinarily it might, since it was also in 2012 that a ripple started in east Asia that has turned into a tsunami of tension and change in the region – over-riding the strategic planning not only of Australia but of every other significant state.

For it was then, that Xi Jinping – viewed widely as a predictable, moderate, consensus-and-continuity candidate – was appointed general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party.

Please click here to read the full “China: Tribute where tribute is due” article published at On Line Opinion, written by Griffith Asia Institute Industry Fellow, Rowan Callick.