‘We have discovered a single man claiming housing benefit for a property that appears to have an infinite number of spare rooms,’ said Benefits Officer Kimberley Smalls. ‘He is therefore liable for the most severe under-occupancy penalty.’ The decision means the Doctor faces significant cuts to his housing benefit and he may be forced to … Continue reading Bedroom Tax may force Doctor Who to be evicted from TARDIS
Tag: Beijing
Dharma Initiative denies responsibility for missing Malaysian flight
The secretive scientific research organisation known as "The Dharma Initiative" has denied responsibility for the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370. In a statement released today on the group's website, Dharma's CEO Hugh McIntyre said that despite the similarities between this case and that of the infamous Oceanic Flight 815, the two incidents do not share … Continue reading Dharma Initiative denies responsibility for missing Malaysian flight
Australia’s Governor General meets top Chinese leaders
Australia's Governor-General Quentin Bryce has met with China's top political leaders in one of her final overseas tours in the post. Mrs Bryce held meetings last night with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. It was Mr Bryce's first visit as the official head of … Continue reading Australia’s Governor General meets top Chinese leaders
Australia backs Japan’s military buildup at risk of upsetting China
Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop threw Australia's support behind Japan's attempts to shift its military to a more "normal" defence posture in a speech in Tokyo yesterday. Australia's backing for Japan's proposed move away from a purely defensive military runs the risk of sparking resentment in China, which retains deep suspicion of the hawkish Abe … Continue reading Australia backs Japan’s military buildup at risk of upsetting China
US investment in Australia helps both countries in China
Massive investments by the US in Australian resources projects are helping both nations develop a healthy relationship with China, says departing American ambassador Jeffrey Bleich. "People like to spin out doomsday scenarios," Mr Bleich told The Australian in a farewell interview. "They sell books and newspapers," he said, of the view that China and the … Continue reading US investment in Australia helps both countries in China
Chinese students find Australia’s capital city too quiet for study
The majority of Chinese do not consider Canberra as a study destination and those that do find it too quiet, ACT Chief Minister Katy Gallagher has found. Ms Gallagher is in China, with University of Canberra vice-chancellor Stephen Parker and Australian National University vice-chancellor Ian Young, to promote Canberra as a tertiary education and business … Continue reading Chinese students find Australia’s capital city too quiet for study
Australian Treasury too rosy about China
In October 2009, a former top Treasury official at the Australian embassy in Beijing slammed the Rudd government for a "dysfunctional China policy". Stephen Joske went further, saying "there's no one in Treasury who can tell up from down on China, beyond what they read in the newspapers" - a serious charge given the importance … Continue reading Australian Treasury too rosy about China
Australia and China resume free trade talks
Australia will undertake a major rethink of its investment stance towards China, with the Rudd government now prepared to discuss reducing hurdles to Chinese investment as it strives to conclude a free trade agreement with Beijing. New Trade Minister Richard Marles is preparing to fly to China for talks on the FTA and has signalled … Continue reading Australia and China resume free trade talks
China warns Australia not to take advantage of friendship
China has welcomed the return of Kevin Rudd, but warned the new Prime Minister not to use the the strength of the nation's largest trading partner to its advantage. Mr Rudd has built solid ties with China during his time in politics and as a diplomat, and sought to make relationships with the government and … Continue reading China warns Australia not to take advantage of friendship
China’s bullying tactics backfire in Australia
China's new leader, Xi Jinping, has revived Chairman Mao's doctrine of the "mass line". The founder of modern China didn't want the masses to have a vote, but he did think that it was vitally important to understand their views. The "mass line" in Australia today contains an important message to Canberra, and to Beijing. … Continue reading China’s bullying tactics backfire in Australia
China was furious because Australia would not submit to its demands under Kevin Rudd
One of Australia's foremost China experts says then prime minister Kevin Rudd may have fallen victim to "bite your friend" syndrome during his dealings with the Asian power, as Beijing expected too much in return.In a paper to be released today by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, Ross Terrill, once described by the Chinese as … Continue reading China was furious because Australia would not submit to its demands under Kevin Rudd
China dismisses Australia’s defence white paper, says it changes nothing
China has warned that Labor's new white paper is a political document unlikely to bring major changes to Canberra's defence strategy or alter Australia's position in the Asia-Pacific region. Han Feng, a deputy director at the China Academy of Social Science, a think tank closely linked to the Communist Party and government, said the paper … Continue reading China dismisses Australia’s defence white paper, says it changes nothing
New Australian defence white paper fails to recognise China as any threat whatsoever
Asia is a potentially turbulent region, yet Australia has no sensible defence strategy. For more than 40 years Australia has been able to assume that it is a secure country in a peaceful region. That has kept its defence needs low and defence budget modest. Now Asia is changing fast, and the old assumptions no … Continue reading New Australian defence white paper fails to recognise China as any threat whatsoever
Australia gives up hope on China over free trade agreement
Australia has given-up hopes for a comprehensive free trade agreement with China and will instead focus its efforts on a scaled-back agriculture-focused deal with the Chinese government. The decision comes as China and Australia are deadlocked in negotiations on a free trade agreement because of a dispute about state-owned assets, trade minister Craig Emerson said. … Continue reading Australia gives up hope on China over free trade agreement
Experts warn that China’s main motive in new deal is to prise Australia away from US
The "strategic partnership" announced this week between Australia and China is widely viewed within China and by experts internationally as a move in which Beijing hopes to start prising Canberra away from Washington on security matters. But this is a long-term strategy, which is easier for China's new leaders, who anticipate a 10-year term ahead, … Continue reading Experts warn that China’s main motive in new deal is to prise Australia away from US
Canberra doesn’t understand reality of China-Japan conflict, or consequences to Australia
In the event of a conflict between China and Japan, it's hard to think of a country that would be more exposed than Australia. Yet several leading defence scholars have warned that this prospect is receiving little attention from policy-makers and academics, and Australia is in denial about the risks. Defence specialist and consultant Ross … Continue reading Canberra doesn’t understand reality of China-Japan conflict, or consequences to Australia
Australia has a secret China Unit
After years of policy confusion, a high-powered task force has been quietly pulling the China threads together in the federal bureaucracy. Canberra's leading mandarins have formed a secret task force to cope with the unprecedented challenges of rising China. The Committee of Secretaries on China was formed by a cabinet decision of December 2010 following … Continue reading Australia has a secret China Unit
Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd calls on China to calm North Korea
North Korea's nuclear program poses a serious threat to China's own relations with its neighbours, Kevin Rudd has warned officers at Beijing's main defence academy. In a speech at China's National Defence University, Mr Rudd said Pyongyang's antics threatened China's foreign policy objectives because Asian nations were beginning to co-operate on regional anti-ballistic missile defences, … Continue reading Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd calls on China to calm North Korea
Australia to sell kangaroo meat to China and Russia, worth hundreds of millions of dollars
The kangaroo meat industry is poised to expand its export market to China, with a promise to only cull males in a bid to thwart "fanatical" animal rights activists. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry yesterday said it was working to open market access for kangaroo meat to China. "Representatives from the department are … Continue reading Australia to sell kangaroo meat to China and Russia, worth hundreds of millions of dollars
Australia cancels diplomatic visit by North Korea in response to nuclear test
A planned trip to Australia by North Korean diplomats to establish an embassy in Canberra has been cancelled by the Gillard government following a nuclear test by the secretive state. Foreign Minister Bob Carr said officials from Pyongyang were due to arrive in the nation's capital this weekend to scope out property for a diplomatic … Continue reading Australia cancels diplomatic visit by North Korea in response to nuclear test
December 19 1984 Britain and China sign Hong Kong return agreement
On December 19th 1984, in the Hall of the People in Beijing, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Chinese Premier Zhao Ziyang signed an accord committing Britain to give Hong Kong back to China in 1997. In return, China incorporated terms pledging a 50 year continuation of Britain’s capitalist system. Hong Kong, a small peninsula … Continue reading December 19 1984 Britain and China sign Hong Kong return agreement
October 18 1860 Peking’s Summer Palace destroyed
On October 18th 1860, British troops occupying Peking, China, looted and then burnt the Yuanmingyuan, the fabulous summer residence built by the Manchu emperors in the 18th century. China's Qing leadership surrendered to the Franco-British expeditionary force soon after, ending the Second Opium War and Chinese hopes of reversing the tide of foreign domination in … Continue reading October 18 1860 Peking’s Summer Palace destroyed
September 21 1949 Mao Zedong outlines the new Chinese government
On September 21st 1949, at the opening of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference in Peking, Mao Zedong announced that the new Chinese government would be "under the leadership of the Communist Party of China." The September 1949 conference in Peking was both a celebration of the communist victory in the long civil war against … Continue reading September 21 1949 Mao Zedong outlines the new Chinese government
September 9 1976 Mao Zedong dies
On September 9th 1976, Chinese revolutionary and statesman Mao Zedong, who had been suffering from Parkinson's disease and other health problems, died in Beijing at the age of 82. The Communist leader and founder of the People's Republic of China is considered one of the most influential figures of the 20th century. Mao was born … Continue reading September 9 1976 Mao Zedong dies
August 18 1227 Genghis Khan dies
Genghis Khan, the Mongol leader who forged an empire stretching from the east coast of China west to the Aral Sea, died in camp during a campaign against the Chinese kingdom of Xi Xia. The great Khan, who was over 60 and in failing health, may have succumbed to injuries incurred during a fall from … Continue reading August 18 1227 Genghis Khan dies
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