China has issued a direct warning to Scott Morrison ahead of the election
China has taken aim at Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison ahead of the federal election warning his approach could inflame tensions between the countries.
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China has taken aim at Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison ahead of the federal election warning his approach could inflame tensions between the countries.
The statement was made in an editorial published in Chinese government mouthpiece The Global Times.
The editorial, published on day one of Australia’s federal election campaign after Mr Morrison announced the poll would be held on May 21, sent a warning to leaders that playing the “anti-China card” as they chase votes could stoke tensions between the two countries.
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“Given the mounting challenges the Australian economy is facing, it should be domestic policies that can actually help the Australian people that should dominate the election, instead of words that could lead to more tension with Australia‘s biggest trading partner (China),” it said.
“Then again, Morrison and his government have nothing to show for, in terms of addressing crucial issues directly related to the livelihood of the Australian people. That’s why Morrison and his officials have kept hyping issues like China’s ‘economic coercion’ or ‘threat’ to its national security, clearly seeking to stoke more anti-China hostility in Australia and then shamelessly ride that hostility to power again.”
It also warned about further repercussions if the “anti-China card” was played in an attempt to win more votes.
“This trend has been very clear in Australia ahead of the election. With the election approaching rapidly, politicians in Canberra are keen to spread more political virus to blur their failure and ineptness in handling critical domestic and foreign policies,” it said.
“Such an attempt for political expediency will only result in more tension for China-Australia ties and more trouble for Australia‘s economy.
“If Australian politicians continue to instigate hostility toward China, bilateral economic and trade co-operation is likely to face more headwinds that will exacerbate troubling trends in bilateral economic and trade co-operation. That is a lose-lose for businesses and consumers of both sides.”
Tensions between China and the Australian government have flared in recent years.
The federal government’s move to ban Chinese telecom firm Huawei infuriated leaders within the Chinese Communist Party and sparked a long list of disputes over trade, defence and positions of China’s military in the South China Sea.
Only last month, Mr Morrison flamed tensions by refusing to meet with the new Chinese ambassador.
“So long as China continues to refuse to have dialogue with Australian ministers and the prime minister, I think that’s an entirely proportional response,” he said in March.
“That would be a demonstration of weakness and I can assure you as prime minister that’s the last message I’d ever send to China.”
Originally published as China has issued a direct warning to Scott Morrison ahead of the election
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