We are now reliant on Chinese mad products because, like japanese products 40 years ago, they are simply cheaper which enables the average working person a better lifestyle.
While motor vehicles may be the highest valued Made in China imports, there are a host of everyday household items which we automatically buy without question which are made in China.
Bunnings is a classic example. Just do a browse /label reading session and you'll see what I mean.
China's export oriented industrialisation started in the early 80s with textile/clothing/footwear manufacture and now it dominates those global consumer markets. This followed with building materials, hardware, household goods, white goods, basic electronics & sophisticated electronics.
On the heavy industry market segments it added machinery, shipbuilding , motor vehicles and now aircraft & space vehicles/technology
This was fuelled by steel, aluminium and base metal smelting/milling requiring copious quantities of raw commodity & energy imports all supported by a mercantilist Government.
Like it or lump it, China has achieved industrialisation and became the global leader in trade within 30 years accruing massive trade surpluses to fuel its future development.
Our challenge is to compete in this China dominated industrialised world rather than whinging about the CCP or what China is doing or not doing.
IMO, we should industrialise using the most automated processes to offset our high labour cost inputs and organise our export designated manufacturing in Special Economic Zones (SEZs) to overcome our weaknesses , add Aussie value to our raw exports, trade surpluses & GDP to benefit all Aussies.
