The Chinese Superpower: A Historical Note For Nationalist Activists

Dr. Jim Saleam
18 January 2011

Some of the material published on this blog site on the rise of the Chinese superpower (I particularly note: 'Chinese expansionism/military build up just exposed') excited commentary from various nationalists in Australia First and outside it. I was asked: was it true that Australian nationalists identified China as a 'superpower' as early as the 1970's? was it the case that Australian nationalism developed after that time with a keen awareness of our nation's
vulnerability to Chinese imperialism?

I am able to say 'yes' to both questions.

In 1977, a group of young nationalists in Sydney founded the 'Audacity' magazine, the same title now used for the Australia First journal. In response to public campaigns from the political Left (which identified global rivalry between the USA and the USSR, the big two, the so- called 'superpowers'), the Audacity group stated that the modernisation program in China which had started after Mao's death and after considering the sheer size of China and its armed forces, identified it already as a 'superpower', certainly a power more commanding than any others on earth short of the USA and the USSR. It was explained that China's industrial expansion, which would fuel a massive military build-up, meant (even if it was not technically the case in the 1970's) that China would become the Third Superpower, alongside the USA and the USSR in fair time. That prediction has essentially been realized.

The Australian nationalists from the 1970's onwards consistently developed a public 'propaganda' on the matter of China. There is no need to describe it here. It figured in many documents and campaigns and was regarded as a tenet of ideology. These pioneers of our patriotic world-view are to be commended for recognizing the nature of China.

I recall many on the Left refusing to recognize that China was a developing superpower and needless to say they were all accused of 'racism' for their presumption.

In recent times, it has been the Australia First Party that has upheld the correct view that Chinese imperialism threatens Australia and that China has achieved true superpower status. China has carved out huge mining leases, sent hordes of cheap contract labour to Australia, has established a fifth column of migrants (sic) on our soil, has bought politicians and purchased Australian land. It has no end of public stooges who sing its praises. Chinese imperialism runs counter to Australian
independence and it threatens weaker peoples too throughout the South Pacific. Notably, in the recent Wikileaks controversy, it has been shown that Australian defence analysts are aware of the nature and extend of the military build-up of the Chinese superpower.

I expect that Australian nationalists will be compelled to expand their public outreach campaign on the mortal danger that the Chinese superpower poses to the survival of our people and nation.