Even for a government that has recently made an artform of policy backflips, the Abbott government’s belated, but seemingly inevitable decision to join China’s proposed Asian Infrastructure Investment…
Treasurer Joe Hockey makes the opening remarks at the Australia-China Business Council.
AAP/Mick Tsikas
Lee Kuan Yew literally helped put Singapore on the map. Its subsequent influence far outstrips the tiny island’s geopolitical significance.
Attendants wait to serve delegates with water during the opening of the annual full session of the National People’s Congress, the country’s parliament, at Great Hall of the People, in Beijing, March 5, 2015.
Jason Lee/Reuters
Once China claimed to lead the way in equality for women. Today, women are warned they will be “leftovers” if they don’t produce children.
In the end, Tony Abbott – pictured with Xi Jinping and mining magnate Andrew Forrest – can’t ignore the economic consequences of snubbing China’s investment bank.
AAP/Alan Porritt
The US gravely miscalculated in trying to get China to accept the existing global order. Forced to make a choice, America’s closest allies are joining the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank.
China’s government says it plans to tackle smog, but has also moved to shut down criticism on the issue in the wake of a popular online documentary.
EPA/DIEGO AZUBEL
Under the Dome, a hugely popular online documentary about China’s smog crisis, could be as influential as 1962’s US pesticide exposé Silent Spring - but only if Chinese officials allow debate to flourish.
Since the founding members signed on to the the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank in China last October, more Western powers have agreed to join.
Takaki Yajima/EPA/AAP
It makes sense for Australia to join Britain and New Zealand in the newly created AIIB, but it’s unlikely we will have any significant influence over the organisation.
China could be returning to Mao’s idea that students should be both ‘red and expert’.
Today is a good day/flickr
There can’t be too many people in Australia who don’t recognise that the health of the Australian economy is increasingly determined in China. The boom and all-too-predictable bust in the resource sector…
This lake is not supposed to be green.
Greenpeace China
China is building artificial islands to exert military influence in the South China Sea. Could this bring military conflict back to a long-peaceful region?