Labor leader Anthony Albanese toughens stance on China

Opposition leader Anthony Albanese has toughened his stance on China, saying the super power is the one that has to change, not Australia, as fractures continue to appear in the countries’ relationship.

Opposition leader Anthony Albanese declared there would be “no compromise on values at all” even as China continues to engage in economic coercion against Australia, as he Toughens his stance on China,

Admitting the fractured relationship with Beijing would not be repaired with a change of government, Mr Albanese said it was China that had change, not Australia and it was a reality that would have to be dealt with regardless of who wins the upcoming election.

The strengthened rhetoric comes as the Morrison Government seeks to ramp up its national security credentials and warn of “catastrophic consequences” if the super power chooses a path other than peace.

Opposition leader Anthony Albanese at the National Press Club in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Speaking at the National Press Club, Mr Albanese said he did not blame the Morrison Government for China’s antipathy towards Australia.

“Whoever is in government, it will be a difficult relationship. It will be difficult because the posture of China has changed. It is China that has changed, not Australia that has changed,” he said.

“China is more forward leaning in the region and that requires an adjustment in our approach”

He said he hoped Australia could maintain its same policy on the Uyghurs, Hong Kong, Taiwan, the South China Sea and human rights, raised by Beijing in its list of grievances with Canberra that it wants addressed, while maintaining an economic relationship.

“I think the US administration put it best when they classified it as competition without catastrophe. We do have competition in our region,” Mr Albanese said.

“We stand up for our values and we should be prepared to not compromise on them, at all.

“But we should also not engage in catastrophe, we should work as much as possible, through multilateral organisations.”

He said it was important not to be “provocative for the sake of it” or for domestic political point scoring, as there could be domestic repercussions.

Defence Minister Peter Dutton says it is important to be honest with the Australian public regarding China. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Peter Dutton, amid a stoush with China over the Prime Minister’s WeChat account and the treatment of tennis star Peng Shuai, said weakness and silence on unacceptable “attributes” of the communist regime — like dissemination of disinformation and human rights abuse — would make the issue worse.

“We want to do whatever we can to keep peace and stability within our region, and being weak and not talking up on these things is not a solution to having resolution,” Mr Dutton said.
“There are many issues that we need to deal with then we need to be honest with the Australian public … because if we just close our eyes and our mouth and pretend it‘s not happening, the problem will compound and it won’t go away it will become worse.”