IT was troubling to read Alyn Smith’s column (We must be wary of China’s bid to spread its influence, December 9).

He cites some examples, mostly accusations rather than specific evidence, of how China’s educational centres – the Confucius Institutes – may threaten the West. Much of the article is an unsupported stream of prejudice and insinuation, peppered with scare words like censorship, propaganda and apologists.

As China becomes the world’s largest economy and as its economic, political and cultural significance rises – a process which, post-pandemic, seems likely to accelerate – it’s vital that we at least keep an open mind and try to understand more about China’s civilisation state. We might even learn something from their smart statecraft, as distinct from the overbearing, bellicose approach of the West.

Smith’s Sinophobic style simply can’t work in the years ahead. How will a newly independent Scotland move forward internationally if it merely adopts the old Cold War rhetoric, just as the world pivots towards the east?

Paul Bassett

Glasgow

WHY the hit piece on China from Alyn Smith? Surely critical writing on the US/UK’s “official enemies” is a reserved matter for any UK Government.

Would Alyn Smith devote the same amount of time and energy casting a critical eye over the “special relationship”? A relationship that could see our cherished NHS fully privatised as US big pharma and insurance are salivating over the billions of pounds up for grabs, post deal or No-Deal Brexit. Should this not be the leading indy argument? Imagine the reaction from Scots waking up realising that health is no longer free at the point of access!

Incidentally, since 1945, the US have overthrown or attempted to overthrow a foreign government in about 60 countries – now that’s unparalleled “spreading influence” that would be worth writing about!

JC

Fife

ANENT the recent discussion about Gaelic. The school I went to had pupils from all over the world, most of whom arrived able to speak English. One year, nine Pakistani youngsters arrived, all from one family, and none could speak a word of English, not even “yes” or “no”. But within weeks were able to converse with us fluently.

I am useless at languages (I leave the talking to my wife!) but during three weeks in France I learned more French than I did in seven years away at school.

My son lives in Italy and also learned the language very quickly, and now teaches English to individuals and company staff. My grandson is fluent in three languages and he is only three years old.

What has all this got to do with Gaelic? All the people mentioned above were immersed in the language, and I’m sure this is the route to take to preserve and increase Gaelic speakers. If people interested in the language could learn in settings where no English was allowed, say with Gaelic-speaking families or more formal settings, wouldn’t this grow the number of Gaelic speakers and eventually make others keen to learn?

Richard Walthew

Duns

LESLEY Riddoch is right to point out the folly of the royal couple’s recent “morale-boosting” trip to Edinburgh (December 10).

Visiting Scotland by breaking our Covid rules was bad enough, but worse still was their visit to a food bank in the north of England to thank volunteer staff.

Unbelievable that a privileged royal couple could be so badly advised.

Their attendance endorses the normalisation of the very existence of the Tory-imposed austerity that has created this phenomenon of food banks in 21st-century Brexit Britain.

Is this the vision of their UK that they believe is acceptable?

If so, then it’s beyond contempt and an incredible insight into their lack of real compassion for the poorest in society.

There should be no food banks in what we are told is the world’s fifth wealthiest “country” of which you are the heirs in waiting.

My advice to the young royal couple, in all sincerity, is don’t visit food banks, do something meaningful to eradicate the blight of their very existence.

Ian Stewart

Uig, Isle of Skye

WHEN Joanna Cherry had some legal success recently I understand that Nicola Sturgeon was gracious enough to recognise and compliment her on that. It would do Joanna no harm at all to reciprocate and acknowledge Nicola’s efforts, particularly in recent months. We need both of these talented ladies. Gracious acknowledgement is in short supply in the sports field as well but we expect better of our politicians.

RG Clark

Gorebridge

I RECEIVED a Christmas card this week from a cousin in New Zealand with Scotland after my address with no mention of the UK. Kind of says it all, really, that Scotland is known all over the world.

Fiona Lennard

via email