The Australian Government should stand by its traditional allies, the United States and Japan, and not seek short-term benefits by siding with China in regional disputes. Late in March, the Australian Prime Minister John Howard somewhat optimistically foreshadowed an Australian role as a bridge between China and the United States. In a foreign policy address…
The European Union and the United States are putting up barriers against the flood of cheap Chinese exports. But there is another danger to world trade if there is a sudden slump in China’s economic growth, writes Peter Westmore. Faced with a flood of cheap textiles from China, the United States and European Union (EU) – which have pushed the global free trade agenda – are looking urgently at measures to cut imports of Chinese-manufactured cloth and clothing. As part of China’s accession to the World Trade Organization in December 2001, China agreed to let WTO members reimpose quotas if…
No recent event has surpassed the funeral of John Paul II. Peter Westmore looks at the Pope’s role as a religious leader without equal, and as the moral conscience of the world. The extraordinary outpouring of respect for Pope John Paul II, following his death on April 2, has been unprecedented in recent history. Over…
In December 2002, after Islamic terrorists bombed two nightclubs in Bali, killing over 200 people (including 89 Australians), the Prime Minister, John Howard, said that Australia would be prepared to launch a pre-emptive strike against terrorists in another country if he had evidence they were about to attack Australia. At the time, his comments drew strong criticism from South-East Asian regional powers, including Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia; but subsequent developments in the region, including close co-operation in hunting down the Bali bombers, as well as Jemaah Islamiah (JI) cells responsible for the bombing of the Marriott Hotel in Jakarta…