Scott Morrison addresses US government committee on China concerns
Former prime minister Scott Morrison told a US government committee what Australia did to change China’s tune from one of “bullying and coercion” to “charm and flattery.”
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Australia and its allies must stand up to bully China and endure short-term economic backlash to break Beijing’s stranglehold over the world’s economy and critical minerals supply, former Prime Minister Scott Morrison says.
Speaking in Washington, Mr Morrison told a US House Committee China’s infamous list of 14 grievances and subsequent trade bans during his tenure were intended to punish Australia and send a warning to America’s allies.
“I am pleased that our government provided the example of resistance and resilience by standing firm rather than acquiescence and appeasement,” he said.
Mr Morrison told the bipartisan Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party that Beijing had since used the change in government in 2022 to shift its approach to Australia.
“This included abandoning their economic and diplomatic bullying and coercion for more inductive engagement laced with charm and flattery,” he said.
“That said the PRC still continues to engage in intimidatory behaviour by their military against Australia when it suits them, without remorse.”
The testimony comes days after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s week-long trip to China where he met with President Xi Jinping.
Mr Morrison said while Beijing’s tactics had changed between governments, its objectives remained the same including neutralising public support for efforts to prepare for the Chinese security threat including increasing defence spending, and weakening alliances in the Indo Pacific.
Committee Chairman John Moolenaar said the rare appearance of a former head of government as a witness “underscores both the seriousness of this issue and the strength of the US-Australia alliance”.
He described China’s economic coercion of other countries including Australia as “one of the most urgent threats democracies face in the 21st Century”, citing Beijing’s heavy-handed retaliation when Mr Morrison called for an investigation into the origins of Covid, slapping tariffs and bans on our products including wine, barley, lobster and coal.
“We must double down on the efforts that Beijing fears the most, including AUKUS, the Quad and deeper Indo Pacific co-ordination with our friends,” Congressman Moolenaar said.
“The CCP wants to isolate the United States from our allies.
Congressman Moolenaar said it was “time for the free world to stand together” and project unity and economic resilience in the face of “Beijing’s bullying”.
Mr Morrison said deepening economic and security ties between allies would be critical in deterring China and warned that in the new environment, countries including Australia needed to understand that more would be expected of it than had been in the past.
He said a strong America with a healthy industrial base was in the best interests of Australia, pointing to the enormous investment through AUKUS.
“I don’t know of any other ally the United States has that is actually paying the United States to help build your defence industrial base on submarines,” he said.
“That’s what a serious partner does and has been doing – heavy lifting in the partnership.”
Rahm Emanuel, the former Chicago Mayor and US Ambassador to Japan who has been tipped as a potential Presidential candidate, advocated during his testimony for the implementation of a NATO style Article 5 pact among allies to retaliate as a block in response to economic and trade aggression from China against any of its members, considering an attack on one as an attack on all.
“Resilience requires a willingness to retaliate and recognising China’s weaknesses and prepared to go after them,” Mr Emanuel said.
He said economic coercion was China’s most “pernicious and persistent tool”.
Committee ranking member Raja Krishnamoorthi held up a bottle of Australian Penfolds wine as an example of how allies could support one another, noting sales of what came to be known as “freedom wine” skyrocketed in Taiwan in support of the Australian vintners after it was blocked by China.
Mr Morrison warned there were “irreconcilable differences” between democracies and regimes like that in China.
“I think we have to be clear eyed and not pretend this is somehow going to be resolved through discussion,” he said.
“Discussion is fine, engagement is good, it’s better than the alternative, but if we think that is going to produce a chance in the mindset in Beijing then we’re frankly kidding ourselves.”
He said the support of allies for companies like Penfolds was welcomed and a strong political statement but said it did not take away the very real harm suffered by Australian businesses.
“My point about that if you stand up, it hurts, and you have to be prepared to take that,” Mr Morrison said.
He said as Prime Minister, he was bolstered by farmers and producers who wrote to him saying they were hurt by China’s sanctions but they supported him standing up to Beijing.
“And so if you’re going to stand up here, you’ve got to be prepared to take a few hits in the process,” he said.
“But you’re much more able to do that if you can take hits with your mates, and your mates have got to show up as well.”
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