China and its accumulation of power in international politics:

Firstly, it should be noted that China was a dominant power in the world economy from 1100 and 1800. It was powered by its textile and agricultural revolutions, however fell behind with the discovery of coal in Britain and the industrial revolution in the West. Contemporary China is marks some what of a re-emergence.
1950s under Communist China, land reforms begin to spread throughout the state.
1980s: The communist government begins to initiate a dramatic shift in its economic strategy. Over the next three decades China opened up to foreign investment, and privatised industries. Foreign investment in particular, helped to create and sustain China’s manufacturing sector. By 2010 China displaced the US and Europe as the main trading partner in many countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America.
China is home to the world’s largest middle class population. As an economic superpower, it has considerable purchasing power.
Politically, China has not had a history of interventionist diplomacy or wars. Militarily, China does not have the arms capacity of the US. Regardless, the US views China as a major threat to its security
The US is intensifying its efforts to undermine Chinese overseas access to strategic resources while backing ‘grass roots’ separatists and ‘insurgents’ in West China, Tibet, Sudan, Burma, Iran, Libya, Syria and elsewhere. The US military agreements with India and Pakistan advanced its strategy of isolating China.
While China upholds its policy of “harmonious development” and “non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries”, it has stepped aside as US and European military imperialism have attacked a host of China’s trading partners to essentially reverse China’s peaceful commercial expansion.
China’s lack of a political and ideological strategy capable of protecting its overseas economic interests has been an invitation for the US and NATO to set-up regimes hostile to China. The most striking example is Libya where US and NATO intervened to overthrow an independent government led by President Gadhafi, with whom China had signed multi-billion dollar trade and investments agreements. The NATO bombardment of Libyan cities, ports and oil installation forced the Chinese to withdraw 35,000 Chinese oil engineers and construction workers in a matter of days. The same thing happened in Sudan where China had invested billions to develop its oil industry. The US, Israel and Europe armed the South Sudanese rebels to disrupt the flow of oil and attack Chinese oil workers. In both cases China passively allowed the US and European military imperialists to attack its trade partners and undermine its investments.

US and its accumulation of power in international politics:

The US established itself as a great power in the early 20th century. America’s economic boom enabled it to become pivotal in both regional and world politics (The roaring 20s). Economic power is a necessary prerequisite to becoming a global power.
The discovery of oil in the US (Texas, California, Alaska, Gulf of New Mexico) propelled the economy globally. In addition, the early adoption of cross country rail road systems also helped with development and growth.
In 1900 US concentrated 38% of world’s wealth, 13% more than Britain. By 1914 US produced roughly equal coal as Britain and Germany together, its national income surpassed that of the next four economies combined and, in 1919, overtook Europe as the region possessing the larger economic output. Economic power paved the way for other forms of power: soft, latent and hard. Utilisation of America’s wealth and the strengths it conveyed, allowed US to assume a leading international role.
However, it was the continued application of a combination of hard and soft power that really launched the US forward into its role as a ‘super power’. (The cultural effect of the US via Hollywood, the rise of the American dream)
The American military was shaped to best protect the state as well as the states resources, international interests, and assets. (Even back then (1898-1918) the US had an interventionist approach with their military. Fkn assholes tbh) Not to mention, the geographical size and population of the US furthered its image as a political heavyweight (Fatasses). (Also, Kennedy argued that America’s unique geographical location offered a higher degree of security than European states)
Panama Canal Incident (1904-1914): The US helped Panama rebels create their own independent state from Colombia, in return, the US got to build the canal which bolstered global trade.
WWI (1914-1918): Established the US as a global military power.
Cold war: Dominated international affairs for decades and shaped major crises along the way. Firstly, the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. The US had positioned missiles in Turkey facing USSR in 1959. In 1961, Cuba became a Communist state and USSR planned to set up missiles there that would face the US. The missile crisis refers to the 13 day blockade against the USSR navy that was carrying the missiles. The crisis ended when JFK agreed to leave Cuba alone and lowkey disarm the nukes in turkey (bc he didn’t want the public to know of this) and in return Khrushchev turned the ships carrying missiles back.
Vietnam War: (1955-1975) Involved North (Communist, USSR backed) and South (US backed) Vietnam. Resulted in North Viet victory and withdrawal of US troops, both North and South Viet were reunified. This was also a proxy war as the US and USSR didn’t directly engage. Similar to the Afghan-Soviet war when the US financed the mujahideen to fight the soviets.
The Berlin wall, built in 1961 and destroyed in 1989, was a symbol of the cold war, separated East Germany (USSR controlled) from West Germany (Federal Republic of Germany).
The underlying issue beneath the Cold War was the US’s capacity for nuclear arms.
US accumulation of power: economic boom, growth of soft power, growth of military and international diplomacy, victory in WWI and WWII on a global scale, establishment of nuclear power

Asylum Seeker Policies in Shambles

There has been an increase of 197 boats coming into Australia per year since the Howard government. The number of asylum seekers in detention is currently 6000. Australia takes in 13,000 refugees annually.

Liberal member of parliament, Andrew Robb said their effective policies were aimed to turn the boats around and stop them coming to Australia. He said the current ‘government is soft on borders’. Policies also included offshore processing for asylum seekers.

The policies on the processing of asylum seekers are time consuming and inefficient. Asylum Seeker Resource Centre Campaign Manager, Pamela Curr said that ‘politics are everything’ when it comes to policy making. She said the number of positive decisions given to asylum seekers of Hazrara ethnicity had dropped from 97% to 70% This is despite of the Hazara needing genuine refuge from persecution in Afghanistan where they are a minority group.

Monash University’s Politics lecturer, Waleed Aly said Australia’s history has been plagued with discrimination in regards to immigration. He referred to the ‘White Australia’ policy of limiting the number of non-Anglos who came into Australia.

Offshore processing is carried out in Papua New Guinea and Nauru.

Desal Plant Disaster

The labour government’s desalination plant has sparked widespread environmental concerns.

The desalination plant located on the Bass Coast, is Australia’s largest and has a capacity of 150 gigalitres.

While plant will provide a secure source of clean water for Victorians, it has a huge impact on the environment. It is an unsustainable quick fix. The plant links to the Murray-Goulburn water grid as well as the Thomson River, despite the results of a scientific analysis concluded that all major rivers in Victoria could not ecologically support and sustain themselves.

Institute for Sustainable Water Resources, Dr Grace Mitchell said “the environment definitely did lose” as an outcome of this plant, which was one of the “biggest mistakes” the government has made in terms of sustainable water planning. She said a plant with a capacity of 50-100 gigalitres would have been feasible for Victoria’s population.

Environment Victoria CEO, Kelly O’Shanassy said they do not support the plant because it is too big O’Shanassy said “the desalination plant is the most expensive and energy intensive” solution to Victoria’s water problems.

Overcrowded and Under serviced: Melbourne’s Transport Disaster

Commuters should expect a wait of up to 20 years if they are looking for an enhanced public transport experience.

Monash University’s Chair of Public Transport, Professor Graham Currie said “as a general rule, there isn’t any public transport in Melbourne,”. This is because the number of commuters is rising rapidly, while the capacity and frequency of running trains, buses, and trams, remain the same.

The city’s inability to improve its transport services has lead to severe inefficiencies throughout the entire network. Patronage of trains has increased by 40% over its limit and traffic congestion has escalated by 20%.

As the government plans to invest $2 billion on 38 new trains, experts are still skeptical about the improvement it will make. Both Bowen and Currie said the government needs ongoing plans to improve the overall quality of public transport.

Daniel Bowen,vPublic Transport Users Association President, said more trains will only work as a “band aid” for the prevalent issue of the transport system not being able to accommodate commuters effectively.

Part of the solution is to have buses and trains that run more frequently and plan ahead with Melbourne’s population growth in mind. Currie said a “congestion tax” similar to London’s, may also help with making public transport run more efficiently. Bowen said traffic light priority given to trams will have a “big impact” on their efficiency.

The government plans to spend $18 billion on a new metro project focused on upgrading metropolitan train lines.

Flood Levels Rise, Residents Stranded

Rural residents of Broken River and Sevens Creek have been cut off as flood levels escalate. The Kialla Lakes area has had roads closed off.

The SES advised the Kialla Lakes and Taylors Estate community to evacuate and a public meeting was held at Mooroopna. Regional SES manager, Les Smith said necessary precautions were being taken to limit flood damage and residents “will have community support until the water subsides”. His main cause for concern is the Goulburn River and those who have been isolated on properties.

The Goulburn River is predicted to peak at 11.1 metres by tonight or early Tuesday morning. It is estimated 100 homes will be damaged as a result of flood water and 600 homes isolated.

A Recovery Centre has been set up at the Senior Citizen’s Centre on Welsford Street, Shepparton. Medium to long term assistance will be provided for those affected by the floods. Assistance will come in forms of monetary grants, aid in clearing up property, and psychological support.

Motorists are advised to monitor local road conditions prior to travelling and be wary of any wildlife in need of assistance.

Goulburn River

Meningococcal Outbreak in Ballarat

Five teenagers have been hospitalised and quarantined with meningococcal disease in Ballarat.

All were students of Sebastapol College, aged 13 to 16 and catch the same school bus.

The first to be diagnosed was Jeremy Little (15). He was rushed to hospital 6pm last night.

His symptoms included a high fever, intense headache, and vomiting. His mother, Lynne Little said she has not received any updates on Jeremy’s condition.

Sebastapol College principal, Bruce Feeney is not aware of any other students being diagnosed by the disease and is looking to the Department of Education for further instruction.

Ballarat Base Hospital’s Head of Communicable Diseases, Dr Beryl Wainwright said that the three were in a “serious but stable condition” and two were in a “critical condition”.

A Closer Look