Embrace multiculturalism

The Australian Strategic Policy Institute reported recently that out of 44 scientific research programmes China is leading the US in 37 and still heading for more improvement. The Report advised the western nations should join forces to catch up in the education and research areas.

Western countries used to regard their superiority over Asian countries in social and economic level due to their advanced technological and scientific development. The Report disproved the myth, while people are fearing the uprising of totalitarian China would threaten western values of democracy, freedom and legal system. Some Australians are worried by the report, and Australian Chinese are concerned about the impact.

Australia is a nation of western values on her own in Asia. The risk is there with her vast territory and resources. Lately Australia has been building closer defense cooperation with the US, UK and neighboring countries, aiming to keep a strategic status quo in the region since WWII. But with growing China’s political and military expansion in the region, Australia and China are posed for conflict.

Besides political tactics and military enforcement, what the Australian government can do must let Australians understand and cooperate with China more in harmony. Australia used to over rely on China economically; now our tactical approach has adjusted to broaden our market globally in our export, education and tourism industries.

As a nation with multicultural immigrants, people coming on board including Chinese must integrate into the society. Australian Chinese here can aid trade development between the two countries, due to their ties, experience, and network with their places of origin. Even when the two countries are now in rivalry, we should work harder to join hands with immigrants from other countries as multiculturalism must work in our interest.

I believe participating and knowing more about other minor ethnics’ community activities would make a good start. Inviting them to come to ours would be our first step in happening.

Mr. Raymond Chow, Publisher