Anthony Albanese responds to Paul Keating’s China rant

Anthony Albanese says he “fundamentally disagrees” with Paul Keating’s scathing assessment of the AUKUS pact, criticism of senior Labor ministers and defence of China.

Anthony Albanese has rejected Paul Keating’s scathing assessment of the AUKUS pact, criticism of senior Labor ministers and defence of China, saying the former prime minister’s comments “diminish” him.

The Prime Minister said the “world has changed” since Mr Keating – who on Wednesday slammed AUKUS, called Australia’s security agencies “ding-dongs” and said China posed no “threat” – was in parliament three decades ago.

Mr Albanese said he was “not going to get into an argument” with Mr Keating as he had “respect for what he achieved” during his political career, but he defended the AUKUS pact and the decisions his government had taken in relation to national security.

“I fundamentally disagree with (Mr Keating’s) view and I disagree with his attitude toward the state of the world in 2023,” he told 3AW.

Mr Albanese said China had changed its posture and position since the 1990s when Mr Keating was active in politics.

Anthony Albanese and U.S. President Joe Biden. Albanese has defended AUKUS after Paul Keating’s rant. (Photo by Sandy Huffaker for NewsCorp)

“That’s the truth of the matter,” Mr Albanese said. 

“I sat in parliament when (Chinese President) Xi Jinping was welcomed to the parliament by the then-Liberal Government, that was something of a different time.”

Mr Albanese said his position on China was that Australia should co-operate where it could and disagree “where we must”.

He said Australia disagreed with China on its human rights record, activities in the South China Sea and its “much more forward leaning” actions in the Indo-Pacific.

“We don’t seek conflict with any nation and I have not engaged in any rhetoric aimed at increasing tension, I want good relations, but I want good relations based on our values and I won’t shy away from that,” he said.

“China has seen the fastest and most significant growth of defence spending since WWII and that’s just a fact.”

Former Prime Minister Paul Keating exploded on Wednesday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Asked about Mr Keating’s scathing attacks on Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Defence Minister Richard Marles, Mr Albanese said none of his colleagues were “surprised” by the former PM’s words.

“I don’t think that does anything other than diminish him frankly, but that’s a decision that he’s made,” Mr Albanese said.

Describing the work of both ministers as “outstanding,” Mr Albanese said he would “of course” defend them and the job his government was doing.

Mr Albanese said Ms Wong had done “outstanding” work repairing Australia’s diplomatic relationships with European allies, deepening connections with the US and bringing the country “great respect” from ASEAN and Pacific countries in the region. 

“Paul Keating wasn’t complimentary about all three of us yesterday, that is his prerogative to do so,” he said. 

Penny Wong was given an almighty spray by Keating. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

“My job is to govern Australia in 2023 based on what we see as the facts before us, and the world has changed (since the 1990s).”

Speaking at the National Press Club on Wednesday, Mr Keating said under AUKUS, Australia would get “sucked into the American control system”.

He also dismissed China’s exponential growth in Defence spending.

“What the Chinese do in building a fleet is no provocation,” he said.

Mr Keating called Taiwan a “so-called” democracy and ignored a question about China’s treatment of pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong.

KEATING SLAMMED FOR ‘GASLIGHTING’ VICTIMS OF CCP

Human rights experts have accused Paul Keating of “regurgitating Chinese Communist Party talking points” and “gaslighting” victims after he claimed Beijing’s abhorrent treatment of Uighurs was in “dispute”.

The former Labor prime minister launched a fiery tirade against the Albanese Government, the AUKUS pact and journalists who questioned his unwavering defence of China during a National Press Club address on Wednesday.

“There’s disputes about what the nature of the Chinese affront to the Uighurs are,” he said when asked if he would condemn the CCP for its treatment of the persecuted minority.

Mr Keating then deflected by arguing there should be more criticism of human rights issues in India, and Australia’s record of Indigenous deaths in custody.

Amnesty International Australia strategic campaigns lead Kyinzom Dhongdue said Mr Keating’s “what about” arguments were “a form of gaslighting”.

Former prime minister Paul Keating attacked the AUKUS pact during his National Press Club appearance. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“His speech will be quoted by Chinese media that’s for sure, and you know who’s side you’re on when you’re being quoted in the Global Times,” she said.

Ms Dhongdue said Mr Keating’s comments were “extremely hurtful and traumatising” to the Uighur and Tibetan communities in Australia who’s families overseas still faced persecution.

Human Rights Watch Asia director Elaine Pearson said there was an “ample and growing” body of evidence of the atrocities committed by the CCP in Xinjiang.

“Mass detention, forced disappearances, sexual abuse, family separations … the facts are not in dispute,” she said.

“(Mr Keating) is falling into the trap of regurgitating the Chinese Communist Party’s talking points.”

Ms Pearson said a United Nations report from August last year found the CCP’s treatment of Uighurs may even amount to “crimes against humanity”.

Members of the Uighur community outside China protest against their families’ imprisonment. Picture: Ozan Kose/AFP

Mr Keating blasted Defence Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong for pursuing AUKUS submarines, calling it the worst Defence decision made by a Labor Government since attempts to introduce conscription in WWI.

He said China posed no threat to Australia because it wasn’t about to invade Sydney, Melbourne or Tasmania, but when journalists gave him other examples of threats he attacked them.

A question about trade threats was deemed “silly,” while another asking if he was “out of touch” given he hadn’t had a security briefing since the 1990s was “dumb”.

Mr Keating repeatedly attacked a Sydney Morning Herald report suggesting war with China was imminent and told the journalist responsible to “hang your head in shame”.

There’s an “ample and growing” body of evidence of the atrocities committed by the CCP in Xinjiang.

Mr Marles defended the AUKUS submarines and said if the government had not responded to the massive military build-up in China it would have been “condemned by history”.

“We are making those decisions solely through the lens of Australia’s national interest and … through the prism of the collective security of our region,” he said.

Former Labor leader Kim Beazely said he did not agree with Mr Keating’s criticism of the AUKUS submarine deal.

“Maybe Paul is worried by the offence the Chinese are taking, my answer to the Chinese … is you are building these submarines by the bushel. Why are you entitled to them and we not?” he told ABC.

Originally published as Anthony Albanese responds to Paul Keating’s China rant