It’s hard to know where to start in commenting on the outcome of our free trade negotiations with the US, which were brought to a “successful” outcome a week or so ago. Most interesting was the approach to the outcome by the mainstream daily press. Initially, it was one of euphoria. In a rush of…
The Presidential election being held on March 20 in Taiwan will have important implications for relations with China, and may set a model for a future multi-party democracy in China. It is very clear that the election is being closely watched in Beijing, and by the Chinese people. Taiwan, a nation of 23 million people,…
I have followed the so-called “history wars” to date as if they had no direct impact on anyone I knew. I saw them as largely about whether research and narrative of past events has been accurate and, if it they are not, whether the reputations of those involved, be it individuals or groups, have been…
Two alternate views on this election year emerged in the days after John Howard’s extraordinary backdown on the generous superannuation entitlements given to federal politicians. In the professional reading of the political tea leaves, they could not have been more different. The first one was that Mr Howard was at his political best, taking a…