One in five Australian jobs depend on our trade with countries like China, which Clive Palmer branded as "mongrels and bastards" because of his beef with a Chinese company.

Mr Palmer and colleague, Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie, unfortunately constitute a powerful force in Australian politics.

Australians should ponder how this minority group can be so reckless with our livelihoods.

The Chinese will not dismiss this as just a domestic stunt within Australia's political system because PUP senators hold the balance of power. They are not a side show.

This week Senator Lambie had a Cold War flashback and warned of the "old reds under the beds commies" from China wanting to invade Australia.

If you were accused by a foreign politician of being a mongrel bastard, capable of invading their land, you would be affronted.

As a superpower, China has no issue with Australia except through our friendly trading partnership.

China is our biggest client with $150 billion in trade, weighted in Australia's favour.

China's defence budget is $60 billion, (Australia $29 billion), with almost 70 submarines (Australia six) and four million regular and reserves troops, (Australia about 70,000).

China has issues with Japan and Taiwan over regional sovereignty, and is cautious about Australia's close relationship with our second-biggest trading partner, Japan.

In past wars, Australian troops have fought both the Chinese and Japanese.

But this is not 1939 or 1951. It is 2014 and Australia's trading pact with our friends is huge.

As Pauline Hanson intimated this week, the PUP makes her look mild by comparison.

PUP politicians must accept that with power comes responsibility and diplomacy.

PUP is not the government of Australia, it is a minor party with about 5 per cent of the vote at last year's election.