Former prime minister Paul Keating is a 'useful idiot' for China

The Spectator Australia's 'Fire at Will' Podcast host Will Kingston discusses former prime minister Paul Keating's comments criticising Australia's place in the AUKUS alliance.

"In the 1990s, Keating and Pelosi … made a bet, they bet that economic liberalisation would lead to political liberalisation in China, and that bet has backfired spectacularly," Mr Kingston told Sky News host Andrew Bolt.

"It makes you wonder why he (Paul Keating) does remain a useful idiot for China."

[petercarey]

I love the description of "Useful Idiot." America currently has two top Useful Idiots in the White House. Lord help us.

[peterfarnsworth]

As a china watcher but not lover, Keating makes sense . Perhaps his analogies are too simple . Australia should protect its own interests and not be the lap dog of USA. After all who is Australias biggest trading partner ?

[GeneShepherd-ks]

We give our oil and gas to the US for nothing and you call Keating an idiot.

[ekujohnson]

Australia please used your senses; How your biggest trading partners is your enemy?; How many businesses is Australia doing with the US?

[光蛟程]

Just because he is not anti-China makes him a useful idiot? Such bigotry and ignorance!

[ftu]

Has sky news ever criticized Israel and Muricana?

[grahamkelsey]

Sky is morally repugnant! Keating is spot on!

[murrayarmstrong]

It is interesting to think that the most important requirement for being a “useful idiot” is to be a useless idiot!

[Dismas]

I agree with Keating, Australia must never be America's bee with an itch.

[HusseinDoha]

0:25 Excellent question! He more interested criticizes his own country’s mistakes and wants to avoid teoubles than bashing China for their domestic policies or their dealings with other countries. This is a man who cares about his own country.

[zhaowei]

China 🇨🇳 Rudd and China Keating . China 🇨🇳 Albanese all paid by us China 🇨🇳 😂

[mrblurblur]

America already got three loyal idiots and the latest to four namely Kishida, Yoon, Lai and Marcos Jr.

[Didigetitwrong]

Mr Bolt your not fit to replace Mr Keatings toilet paper.

[Joeblow-kn]

What did he do to get a nice high-paying job out of China? What did he give away for nothing?

[wadah]

Paul Keating seems to be the only smart and human been in Australia when i hear these young talking politics 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[oka]

So all the China bashers are real smart people

[DorJinTan]

Keating is a brave voice. Against sky idiocy.

[Cosense-gl]

He should be jailed as he failed to register as a foreign country agent required by law, while others were jailed. This is an unacceptable two-tier justice system of Australia.

[mohammedhumaid]

He is a wise, brave politician and speaks a lot of sense.

[zhihong]

Keating was talking about the bad submarine deal and more effective ways to defend Australia in case of a real invasion. This doesn't make him an idiot if you have brains.