Despite all the promise of the pre-festive season frolics, the defrosting of the Canberra Beijing impasse never quite turned into the Summer of Love. And while China's leaders keep whispering nothings in the ears of senior Australian government ministers, so far it has all come to nought. Not that the official statements would have you believe that. Just the other day, China's now-permanent ruler Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory Australia Day note to Governor General David Hurley, (not Prime Minister Anthony Albanese) assuring him that relations were heading in the "right direction". It's difficult, however, ... (full story)