When the Chinese government said that the relationship with Australia should be “cherished” I immediately thought about Gough Whitlam’s visit to Beijing in the 70s. No media have pointed out the connection but this is not surprising as I’m quite old, older than most practicing mainstream journalists, and my referents are naturally different. I belong to a generation that is fast fading into obscurity, a kind of elder. But as the traditional welcome to country that presages most public gatherings tells us we should at least pay our respects to elders even if we don’t do what they say. China doesn’t have a functioning public sphere, although WeChat does some work in this respect, and so it needs countries like Australia to fill the gap where corruption and unhappiness reside in its extensive population. We need to remember what our predecessors have done as their example can help us to navigate the rocky passes of the present. Gough Whitlam’s momentous visit is significant because it cam...