Scott Morrison hints at China election interference

Scott Morrison has hinted at China’s bid to “interfere” in Australia, saying his government has been working to prevent Beijing’s attempts to seek influence.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has hinted at China’s bid to “interfere” in Australia, saying his government has actively been working to prevent Beijing’s attempts to seek influence in our country.

On Saturday, Mr Morrison was asked about suggestions from Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews China deliberately timed the signing of its security pact with Solomon Islands to coincide with the Australian federal election.

“Are you accusing Beijing of interfering in our election and what is your evidence and Karen Andrews’ evidence,” a reporter asked.

Mr Morrison responded by saying his government was “very aware” of the influence the Chinese government seeks to have in Australia, adding that they had introduced laws to prevent it.

“So any suggestion that China the Chinese government doesn’t seek to interfere? In Australia well we didn’t put that legislation in for no reason,” he said at a press conference in Mowbray, Tasmania.

“We put it in there to ensure that Australians’ security could be safeguarded from foreign influence in our own country.”

Chinese President Xi Jinping visits the Renmin University campus in Beijing. Source: Xinhua

The PM was pressed again on the issue, asked directly whether he agreed the China’s Solomon Islands deal was designed to coincide with the election.

Mr Morrison responded by once again repeating that there is a reason laws have been introduced to stop foreign interference in Australia.

“That’s why we have funded ASIO that’s why we’ve funded our intelligence agencies to enable us to counteract that,” he said.

“Whether it’s in our universities or our schools or institutions. It’s important that we counter foreign interference in our country and it was our government that put laws in place to stop it.”

Earlier this week, Ms Andrews issued the warning over “political interference” from China, with the deal being announced during week two of the election campaign.

“Why now, why right in the middle of a federal election campaign is all of this coming to light?” she said during a Brisbane radio interview.

“I mean we talk about political interference and that has many forms. So, I think we need to be aware of what Beijing is doing and what it is trying to achieve.”

The announcement of a security pact between China and the Solomon Islands has been a hot topic of discussion this week, with Mr Morrison on Sunday saying prospect of having a Chinese military base in the Pacific was a “red line”.

China’s first ambassador to the Solomon Islands Li Ming, left, and the Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, middle. Source: Supplied

Beijing responded with fury to these comments, with China’s Vice Foreign Minister Xie Feng asked “what right” Mr Morrison had to raise concerns about the deal.

“What right do these countries have to point fingers at China? What qualifications does Australia have to draw a ‘red line’ against the Solomon Islands … and China, which is thousands of miles away?“ he said during an online event.

Mr Xie branded such concerns “colonialist myths” and claimed they amounted to “disinformation, defamation, coercion and intimidation”.

When asked about these comments on Saturday, Mr Morrison simply said, “The Chinese government would say that wouldn’t it?”

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare this week hit out at Mr Morrison for not disclosing Australia’s AUKUS deal with the US and UK, which involved nuclear submarines.

Mr Sogavare said he first heard about the deal through the media.

“One would expect that as a member of the Pacific family, Solomon Islands and members of the Pacific should have been consulted to ensure this AUKUS treaty is transparent since it will affect the Pacific family by allowing nuclear submarines in Pacific waters,” he said

“Oh, but Mr Speaker, I realise that Australia is a sovereign country which can enter into any treaty it wants to, transparently or not.

“Which is exactly what they did with AUKUS.”

Originally published as Scott Morrison hints at China election interference