Diplomacy and our China plates

The editorial (“Pacific demands”, April 23-29) reviewing the Solomons crisis hit the bullseye in concluding the Morrison government has done more to put the country in the line of war than any other in this country’s history. Given the AUKUS agreement and America’s trade war, China has every reason to act defensively and diplomatically in the Pacific. By contrast, on Anzac Day Peter Dutton’s response to the crisis was “the only way that you can preserve peace is to prepare for war”. Such language fits well with our US alliance, a country that has continually waged war for the past two decades, whereas China has fought one war in the past 50 years. A more diplomatic approach in relation to China could involve restoring ABC funding for its voice to the Pacific and using the new Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership for collective Pacific diplomacy. And Dutton could simply stop acting like a bull in a China shop.

– David Wilson, Newport, Qld