In China politics is always about business

Instead, there is a tendency to think about the leadership in Beijing in the same way they do when addressing leaders of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce meeting in Sydney. But two are not the same thing – indeed it is insulting to Australian-Chinese to assume they are.

Chinese language and culture are very rewarding things to study - but the reason China is fundamentally different to Japan or South Korea is not really because of a cultural or linguistic misunderstanding. It is because of the difference in political culture.

Thus when people like Geoff Raby, our former Ambassador to China, offer the standard counsel that "Leaders must find ways of using cultural exchanges, education and scientific engagement, and cooperation regionally and globally, to lay a really solid grounds of respect and trust. Only then might we witness the true potential of what a strong China-Australia relationship could bring" they rather miss the point.

All analogies are imperfect and there are, of course, many honorable union officials in Australia, just as there are many people of integrity in China's military, business and bureaucracy – who do the best they can within the system. The trick is finding them and doing what you can to support them.$59:0" /> But as the recent example of Arthur Sinodinos shows, it does not pay to be blasé when dealing with business partners who come from a particular political background. China, after all, can be far less transparent place than even modern day New South Wales.