interesting theory about firb

From the business spectator - the full article at:

http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/Holding-out-on-China-$pd20090324-QF8W5?OpenDocument&src=sph


Extracts:

Rudd wants a deeper engagement with China. He’s been promoting a deeper involvement by China in the world’s affairs, including a larger role in global economic forums and institutions. In the current global economic and financial environment, what leverage does Australia have in a negotiation with Beijing? None ... except access to our rich resource base.

If that were Rudd’s perspective, it would make no sense to give the Chinese what they want without securing something in return.

Allowing the Minmetals bid to proceed would be, in that context, to hand over something for nothing or, worse still, to reveal the weakness of the negotiating position.

Conversely, by demonstrating that it was prepared to risk allowing Oz Minerals to fail, it would be strengthening its hand. It would be saying that there needs to be a quid pro quo beyond the simple investment dollars for large-scale access to Australian resources to be granted to the state-owned enterprises.