Podcast 25: We need to talk about not going to war with China | with Allan Behm
Dear Patrons
Here's the Juice Media Podcast companion to our latest Honest Government Ad about AUKUS - the new trilateral military pact between Australia, the USA and UK.
My guest is Allan Behm - someone whose perspective on the deteriorating relationship between the Australian and Chinese Governments I find to be really sane and level-headed.
If, like me, you've been struggling to understand wtf is going on with AUKUS, nuclear subs, the South China Sea, Taiwan and growing talk of "war with China", you could do a lot worse than putting on this podcast as you enjoy your weekend salutary stroll.
What I like most is Allan's way of acknowledging the complexity and messiness of the situation, and the failings and stupidity on both sides - eschewing simplistic black and white, good vs evil lenses.
And I think his answer to my final question about what he would like to see happen instead of the AWKUS shitshow, offers a perspective that way more people need to hear - especially Australians.
I hope you enjoy the podcast - and if so, please recommend it to others so we can help spread the word.
Massive gratitutde to all of you - our Patrons - for making it possible to produce the Juice Media Podcast.
Thanks to your support, I am now able to employ Ellen (who you know from our HGAs) to help me produce and edit the podcast. I am still showing her the ropes but already this is a *HUGE* help for me. Soon it will allow me to get stuck into the next Honest Government Ad sooner that if I were still editing the podcast on my own.
Ellen also has a kickass DSLR camera, which we used to film the intro for this podcast. We plan to also improve the backdrop for the interviews so as to make the Podcast look a bit more professional :)
I'll catch you soon for our next Honest Government Ad which - if things go to plan - will be about the upcoming climate summit in Glasgow.
Until then, take care
Giordano
LINKS:
You can watch the podcast here on our YouTube channel
You can listen to the podcast on your favourite podcast app
Comments (17)
They own our ports and airports
China doesn’t want war they want control we purchased most of our products from China they own most of our cattle farms our Sola our electricity in some states
As a US citizen, please develop your own tech and do not get stuck with us and our stupid shit. Diversity is better.
Will the US airbases be used to store nuclear weapons as was done at Pinatubo in the Philippines ? ( Before the volcanic eruption ).
I don't think there's any plans to do that now, but who knows what will happen
One question that has not been asked.
I’m always amazed by the quality of people and discussions you bring to bear on these issues, thank’s again!
That's so great to know Luc - cheers!
Excellent analysis from Alan. The Australian government in the last couple of years has gone out of its way to annoy China. Yet, they are our biggest trading partner and the Australian economy is dependent on China. The position that is being taken then is irrational and so the question that I ask is why we do this. Is it because at heart, Australia does not see itself as being part of the region that we are located in, and that we are still tied our historical allies ie UK and the USA?
Have you watched John Pilger's The Coming War with China? yeah worth a watch... I enjoyed the interview and agreed with MOST of it - but felt that he underplayed the corruption that underscores the entire Morrison Govt and the long term damage it is causing. No one mentioned the world going from bi polar power structure to Poly polar which surprised me a bit... Also.... as i am won't to quote on this SIT DOWN AND TALK .... https://youtu.be/BJP9o4BEziI
Glad to hear you agreed with most of the interview, Wendy - it's good that we have some slights points of difference. As the old saying goes "if everyone's thinking the same thing, someone not thinking" I've seen bits of Pilger's doco - will check it out!
Perhaps I'm naïve, but it seems to me that it all boils down to… mammon, i.e., laissez-faire capitalism. In western nations, they're biting their nails about a threat from China, yet all the while most possessions in people's homes are from… guess where? So is China at the root of the problem? Or is it, in reality, the western corporations that have moved their manufacturing there to reap more profits off of China's cheaper labor? Mammon. At the same time, China is wary of western military interventionism, which is fueled above all by our weapons manufacturing and sales for… you guessed it. Mammon. How about in this world we stopped putting profits above people —and planet? What a concept.
You might be onto something there Mark!
Great interview and podcast, sure has been interesting to see the responses, to the HGA from both the apparent Aussie and China govt patriots. It's taken a while for everyone, including the governments of France and even the US, not to mention China, to get their heads around WTF this AUKUS stuff was or is all about I think. If it turns out to be anything much at all except another announcement and a further mess for Australia to deal with and no subs anywhere soon.
Thanks Peter!
Hey there Giordano, I should just cut and paste my responses from your previous podcasts, they are always so interesting and worth the time to sit back and listen. The Australia Institute has a lot of very good thinkers / communicators. Allan presents a very balanced assessment of the way it is in the world. Refreshing to hear. Thanks as always. Pete
Haha thanks Pete, I guess that's a good thing! I'm really glad to hear there's good consistency with the podcast :)