Paul Keating attacks media for ‘pious belchings’ over China
Paul Keating has slammed local media for its reporting on China in a speech this week. Michelle Grattan recaps Keating’s comments and explains the issues in this crossposting from The Conversation.
Former prime minister Paul Keating has launched a scathing attack on the Australian media for its coverage of China, denouncing “the nominally pious belchings of ‘do-gooder’ journalists” who live on leaks from security agencies.
Keating told the Australian newspaper’s strategic forum on Monday: “The Australian media has been recreant in its duty to the public in failing to present a balanced picture of the rise, legitimacy and importance of China”.

Keating has taken a commercial interest in China relations. He’s simply an advocate, paid.
So the almighty dollar takes presidents over human rights? dollar rules !what about the people in HK trying to protect there freedom ?or people in Tibet who are been locked up just for there religion,? and the this all happened before history repeats itself !evil happens when good people stand by and do nothing !Did Chamberlin stop the war by going over and appeasing Hitler ?we have a dictator in China don’t forget ? No standing back and saying nothing about human rights will change nothing
Regardless @Cred, he still has more vision and leadership in his little finger than No-Mo and his Backers
Advocacy from PK is just what the PRC deserves.
From the guy that wanted to “bring Australia kicking and screaming into Asia” and is well known not to have a patriotic bone in his body.
Well what else would he say he is been payed by the communist party in Beijing ‘ and we all know how easy it is for Australia politicians to be bought in Australia This Man has no patriotism for Australia has started that he did not believe in the ANZAC because it was instigated by the English, also does not Believe in the ANZAS treaty because it goes against his ideology expects the media not to criticise Beijing! Is anti American saying Secretary Pompeo was Rodney Rude this man is a communist sympathiser and is a danger to our Democracy not caring about human rights or torture of people in Tibet ! Or HK or re education camps where people are been forcibly been removed from community’s to camp I am ashamed that this person represents Australia in any way he is unconscionable
Keating isn’t advocating for the domination of China over the rest of the world, he’s advocating for us to see it’s power for what it is and to take thoughtful and responsible action in shaping and moderating its impact on the world as it grows. If Keating was a ‘PRC Plant’ as you say, it would be in his best interest to advocate us following the U.S in refusing to accept that China’s power exists. Simply, because that means China can do whatever the f*ck it pleases with APAC without interference and while continuing it’s rapid growth into a deeply unforgiving power who – as we can clearly see don’t give a fuck about the environmental, democratic or humanitarian values we share here – would happily see us annexed.