‘Coalition of autocracies’ seek to threaten us: Morrison

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says a “coalition of autocracies” is seeking to bully countries including Australia, as Russia amasses troops on Ukraine’s border and China slams a peaceful meeting of security partners in Melbourne as “stoking confrontation”.

“A coalition of autocracies” is seeking to bully countries including Australia, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said as Russia amasses troops on Ukraine’s border and China slams a peaceful meeting of security partners in Melbourne as “stoking confrontation”.

Australia is evacuating its consulate in Ukraine’s capital Kiev amid a “deteriorating … and very dangerous state”, while China remains “chillingly silent” on the escalating situation, Mr Morrison said.

People participate in a Unity March to show solidarity and patriotic spirit over the escalating tensions with Russia on February 12, 2022 in Kiev, Ukraine. Picture: Chris McGrath/Getty Images

An under-pressure Prime Minister sought to play up the Coalition’s strengths on national security, while painting Opposition leader Anthony Albanese as weak and inexperienced on the issue.

Mr Albanese said the government was trying to misuse national security and that Russia should “back off”.

As Russia amasses 100,000 troops on its border with Ukraine, US intelligence reports suggest invasion could be within days despite an hour-long phone call between President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday night.

In the meantime, China’s foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian criticised the meeting of representatives from the US, Japan, India and Australia, known as the Quad, held recently in Melbourne, saying it was a “tool for containing and besieging China”.

“It aims to stoke confrontation and undermine international solidarity and co-operation,” Mr Zhao said on Saturday night.

In his strongest comments directed at China in some time, Mr Morrison took aim at Beijing for criticising the “peaceful coming together with our partners in the Quad”, while ignoring Russia’s actions.

“The Chinese government is happy to criticise Australia for engaging in such peaceful activities, yet remains chillingly silent on Russian troops amassing on the Ukrainian border,” he said.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says consulate staff in Kiev are being evacuated. Picture Emma Brasier

“The coalition of autocracies that we are seeing, seeking to bully other countries, is not something that Australia ever takes a light position on, and certainly my government never has.”

Mr Morrison said his government did not have “an each way bet on national security”, in reference to the Coalition’s attack line on the Opposition leader.

Mr Albanese said he strongly supported the Quad and the alliance with the US, warning the government has been attempting to misuse national security.

“I would say this on behalf of the Labor Party, Russia should back off,” he said.

“The threats and intimidation that’s occurring to a sovereign state like the Ukraine are entirely inappropriate in 2022.”

Mr Albanese also said accusations from Defence Minister Peter Dutton last week that China had made a decision to back Labor at the election were “extraordinary”.