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| You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave. | |
There are some organizations that really won't let their members leave. The Mob comes to mind. Scientology too. And Islam. But today lets talk about citizens of socialist countries - like The People's Paradise Republic of China. You may take out citizenship of another country, but your mind, body and soul remain the property of The Collective. If you are born in China, you are Chinese. Which creates a bit of an issue for those who wish to take out Australian citizenship, and then represent Australian companies in their negotiations with China. Like Stern Hu for instance, born in China, and granted Australian citizenship in 1994. Things can get particularly problematic when these people stand in the way of the Chinese government's acquisition of strategic foreign resources. Like in the failed buy-out of Stern Hu's employer, Rio Tinto, for instance. Beijing was furious when the attempt to increase Chinese control of the major resource company was thwarted by a mixture of political and economic events last month. So furious in fact that they smashed into the Rio Tinto offices, helping themselves to Rio Tinto's paper and electronic files. Apparently this made Rio Tinto guilty of stealing 'Chinese state secrets', so they also arrested Stern Hu, and several other Rio Tinto employees. The cynics are claiming that this is a deliberate attempt to humiliate Australia over the rejection of the Rio Tinto bid. So Kevin ('I speak Chinese, you know') Rudd is talking tough on the issue, and warning the Chinese that countries the world over are observing how they behave in business dealings (and by implication evaluating potential Chinese business partnerships accordingly). Rudd's words are for Australian domestic consumption. He knows that the real message from Beijing is to any Chinese who might be considering helping the White Devils in dealings with the Chinese government:
You still belong to us. Loyalty to the White Devil is disloyalty to China. Disloyalty to China is treason. And you will be punished accordingly.
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