I don't know why Australians worry so much about China, apart from, of course, being rote-educated to do so by our American owners.

John Fitzpatrick News on Hong Kong. Hong Kong was colonised by the UK on the basis of a 'Lease', meaning: they took it by force and torture from China because China was weak. As China got strong and the UK got weak, the UK gave it back at the end of the "Lease". Hong Kong has had a great time compared to China because it is small, clever, and a big trading port, and is supported financially by China...well, til now. Hong Kong protestors are upset that now China is too rich, so HK wants to be something else. They complain China is far too Communist and far too Capitalist. They don't actually have any options. Hong Kong is China. They are lost souls of change, although reasonably well off. If Hong Kong caves in, financially, Singapore, as always, will be happy to takeover being the most important trading hub in Asia again...and Hong Kongers can be poor, as poor as they choose to be. China, the government, will not intrude, because they keep their treaties and they keep their promises...unlike everyone else. Protestors: We have to destroy things and kill someone, or many people, many important important people so that China invades us, and we can cry "Liberty! Freedom! Democracy!" ...but China is not a bait-taker. It is not like other countries. The people of Hong Kong, by choice, simply don't understand their own country, and they probably will destroy their part of it, for and by themselves. Fortunately, China has made very good trade connections with Singapore to future-proof the One Belt One Road Project for the people of ...China.

Rave on John Donne - Van Morrison (studio)

Van Morrison - CONEY ISLAND

It amazes me, really. This anti-China thing that Australia has going at the moment. Why is China so bad right now? Because Donald Trump doesn't like them...that's the only reason...and the whole free media machine is instantly on the case. Pathetic. Australia is formulating ideas about how to deal with China etc...goodness me, for fuck's sake, we don't have a voice in any of that. America tells us when to trade, who to trade with, tells us our moralities and who we must support etc...and, for the size that Australia is, China doesn't care anyway. Tiny countries don't tell huge countries what to do, never have, never will. we are so full of ourselves to the exception of all others, and to the exception of reality itself. We'll be ok as long as we have stuff to dig up and sell them...that's how Australia has been for 25 years. That's why we have a reasonable, if falling, first world economy...thats why we still have pensions, an education system, a health system etc...because of China...no other reason. Nothing we've done for ourselves.... We still have stuff to sell. The rest is wanky rubbish-thinking.

Spring Sunset in a plain north-western suburb in deep southern Australia. Crows grow quiet. Various chirpy be-speckled small birds wonder whether to fly back to the new spring nests now or eat a few more seeds. They discuss this point. They note that it is safe to stay awhile. The big sky, mostly blue, is instantly cold with the slow departure of the yellowy unbuttered still wintry sun. House bricks absorb the last of the warmth for the trailing day. The TV news is telling people who they should dislike and fear today. Oh, it's China again. No surprises there, as we only get our opinions from America these days, and America is always afraid of someone. The radio babbles away with songs about girls just wanting to have fun. The world is moving into economic recession. In an hour, or so, the late, tired, low paid commuters will come home here to the gentle quiet.

On Hong Kong: I would expect the protestations will last about 6 more months or a year. The economy will fall. The Chinese Government will not interfere, and the squabble will become between the protestors and those who are happy as they are, basically the parents of the protestors, and the happy have the numbers...but the families will not break. After all, Hong Kong IS China. Families don't break. Chinese women hold it all together.