War is a continuation of politics by other means. The German strategist Carl von Clausewitz, who wrote the book on military tactics, had it right when he came up with that line. And “trade” could be inserted to replace either “war” or “politics”.

Walking recently through Sydney’s inner-city suburbs, your correspondent received an encouraging insight that that trade war or not, trade between this country and China will continue, under the radar, by other means, using useful strategies that have served in other bleak times.  

All the people spoken to -– through my friendly guide through suburbs where English is a foreign...