Prime Minister Scott Morrison calls on Beijing to speak up against Russian aggression

China’s criticism of Australia for hosting peaceful diplomatic talks while Beijing remains ‘chillingly silent’ on Russian troops gathering on the Ukraine border has been condemned by Scott Morrison.

THE hypocrisy of China criticising Australia for hosting peaceful diplomatic talks, while remaining “chillingly silent” on Russian troops gathering on the Ukraine border has been condemned by Scott Morrison.

The Prime Minister called out the double standard after Beijing accused Australia of using its “Quad” alliance with the US, Japan and India to “contain” China, but has not spoken out against Russian aggression.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has criticised the Chinese Government for not standing against Russian aggression toward the Ukraine. Picture: Emma Brasier

“Australia has been criticised by the Chinese Government for peacefully coming together with our partners in the Quad … and working together to promote peace and prosperity in our own region,” he said.

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

In some of his strongest language yet against Beijing, Mr Morrison said the “coalition of autocracies” around the world seeking to “bully other countries” was not an issue Australia would ever take a “light position” on.

“My government has always stood up for anyone who seeks to bully or coerce Australia,” he said.

“And the bullying and the coercion that we’re seeing take place on the borders of Ukraine is an example of that.

“It’s unacceptable there, and it’s unacceptable anywhere else.”

Russian troops have begun military drills in Belarus against the backdrop of tensions between the West and Russia over neighbouring Ukraine. Picture: Leonid Shcheglov/AFP

Mr Morrison said Beijing worked with Russia to shut down the UN Security Council on even basic discussions about issues like Ukraine and Taiwan.

“When autocracies start working together and co-operate and partner in this way, then that obviously raises real concerns for freedom-loving liberal democracies, like Australia,” he said.

“That’s why it’s important that we have taken such a strong stand on these issues.”

The US, Australia, India and Japan held Quad talks in Melbourne last week. Picture: William West / AFP

Mr Morrison said he had never had an “each way bet” on national security, accusing Labor leader Anthony Albanese of entertaining ideas of “trade offs” with China to de-escalate tensions.

But Mr Albanese said he supported the Quad “very strongly,” noting Australia was dealing with a “different China” now than in 2013.

He said this made Australia’s relationship with the US its “most important”.

Chinese President Xi Jinping attending the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games, where Australia has led a diplomatic boycott in protest of China’s human rights abuses. Picture: Yue Yuewei – Pool/Getty Images

China’s Foreign Minister spokesman Zhao Lijian was highly critical of the Quad meeting held in Melbourne on Friday between Australia’s Foreign Minister Marise Payne, US Secretary of State Antony ­Blinken, India’s ­Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Japan’s Yosh­imasa Hayashi, calling it a “tool for containing and besieging China to maintain US hegemony”.

“It aims to stoke confrontation and undermine international solidarity and co-operation,” he told reporters.

A joint statement from the Quad leaders included commitments to support efforts to advance an open Indo-Pacific region and protect the interests of their people, free from coercion.