《孟子.公孫丑》篇提及「以力假仁者霸、以德行仁者王」的治國之道, 表示行霸道者國大而行王道者國小, 在特朗普下令襲擊摧毀伊朗核子設施中, 我們就見到這道理的真實。

沒有國際法規容許美國出動武力進行這一次軍事行動, 也沒有國家認為美國公開表示特朗普做得對, 不過西方國家領袖都認為美國的襲擊, 有效地打擊伊朗發展核子武器的威脅。當然, 沒有明確的證據表明伊朗已經是如以色列所說的很快會擁有核子武器, 不過西方國家領袖都會為風險降低了而鬆一口氣。結果是在NATO峰會上, 差不多所有國家都支持特朗普提出的增加國防開支的要求, 可見大家都同意「以力假仁者霸」 的說法。

使用武力來對付面臨的威脅, 往往比講道理更有效, 因此使用武力在保護自己安全, 是每一個國家領袖都明白的道理。三年來的俄烏戰爭也顯明了使用高科技力量, 如發展廉價的無人機及集情報機制等可以大大降低了防守國土所需要的資源, 這也表示了侵略者往往要考慮付上更多代價。對澳洲這樣一個國土面積龐大卻又孤立的海島國家, 政府實在有需要在這方面加以研究, 把先進科技引入國防設施及裝備之中。

莫里森政府與美國及英國簽訂的「奧庫斯」國防合作, 以發展昂貴的核子動力潛艇為主幹, 是否符合現時的政治氛圍及科技發展, 不斷受到質疑, 我相信現屆政府要細心研究作出評估及回應。

還有的是使用強權手段是否適合治理國家, 在剛過去的大選中, 選民放棄以強者領導姿態包裝的達頓, 便已知道此路不通。自由黨新領袖蘇珊.蕾以與選民對話似乎在短時間內得到澳洲人認同, 稍為挽回澳洲人的認同。不過選民是否會重新接受自由黨, 相信還要看蘇珊,蕾是否能拿出具體政策, 去說服年青人、婦女及多元文化族裔, 自由黨確是聆聽、重視及回應這些被忽略了群體的訴求。

對於華裔移民來說, 我們希望的不是以「平等」為推卻的理由, 忽視新移民者的特定困難, 拒絶幫助。 要知道, 協助新移民能盡早融入社區, 不只是讓他們生活能得以改善, 而是讓他們能盡快為澳洲社會作出更多貢獻的唯一方法。在過往, 兩黨政府只讓移民進入澳洲而不主動協助他們融入, 已令不少人才降低能貢獻澳洲的機會, 盼望我們的政治領袖能正視這一個問題。

周偉文, 社長

Between Humane Rule and Hegemony

In the Mencius, Gongsun Chou, it is said: “Those who use force under the guise of benevolence are hegemons; those who practice benevolence through virtue are true kings.” This philosophy of governance shows that those who rule by humaneness make countries small, while those who follow the path of hegemonic power become great. In Trump’s order to attack and destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities, we see this principle playing out in reality. 

There was no international legal basis for the U.S. to use military force in this action, nor did any country publicly declare Trump was right to do so. However, Western leaders generally believed that the U.S. strike effectively curtailed the threat of Iran developing nuclear weapons. Of course, there is no conclusive evidence that Iran was, as Israel claimed, on the verge of acquiring nuclear weapons. Nonetheless, Western leaders breathed a sigh of relief as the risk appeared to diminish. As a result, at the NATO summit, nearly all member states supported Trump’s call for increased defence spending—demonstrating a shared acknowledgment of the notion: “Those who use force under the guise of benevolence are hegemons.” 

Using force to confront imminent threats is often more effective than relying on reason. Therefore, applying force in self-defence is a truth understood by every national leader. The Russia–Ukraine war over the past three years has also demonstrated that employing high-tech methods—such as developing low-cost drones and intelligence systems—can significantly reduce the resources required for national defence. This also means that aggressors must now consider paying the price needed. For a vast and isolated island nation like Australia, the government truly needs to conduct in-depth research in this area and integrate advanced technologies into its defence infrastructure and equipment.

 The Morrison government’s signing of the AUKUS defence pact with the U.S. and the U.K., centred on developing costly nuclear-powered submarines, continues to face scrutiny over whether it aligns with current political climates and technological trends. I believe the current administration must carefully evaluate and respond accordingly. 

Another question is whether strong-arm tactics are suitable for national governance. In the recent election, voters rejected Dutton, who styled himself as a strongman leader—clearly showing that this path is unviable. The Liberal Party’s new leader, Sussan Ley, seems to have gained some public approval in a short time by emphasizing communication with voters, slightly restoring the party’s image. However, whether voters will once again embrace the Liberal Party depends on whether Ley can present concrete policies that win over young people, women, and multicultural communities—groups that have long been ignored. The party must demonstrate it is willing to listen to, value, and respond to their needs. 

For Chinese immigrants, what we hope for is not the use of “equality” as an excuse to ignore the specific difficulties faced by new migrants thus refusing assistance. It should be understood that helping new migrants integrate into the community early on not only improves their lives but is the only way for them to contribute more quickly and fully to Australian society. In the past, both major parties allowed immigrants into Australia without proactively helping them integrate—this has led to many talented individuals losing opportunities to contribute. We hope our political leaders will take this issue seriously.

Mr. Raymond Chow, Publisher