China’s state-controlled Global Times newspaper has become the pulpit from which Beijing dispenses its most scornful comments about foreigners. The latest unfortunate target is Australia’s foreign minister, Julie Bishop, whom the newspaper last week dismissed as “a complete fool.” Global Times then compounded the insult by saying that, as Australia’s first immigrant population when it was a British penal colony were “rascals and outlaws,” Bishop’s cultural bloodlines might be responsible. Her sin in Beijing’s eyes was saying that, when dealing with China, Australia had to stand up for its values and prepare for retaliation.
