Australia should favour US ties over China, says John Howard
Australia should stick to its values, back the US and not be ‘mesmerised’ by China, former PM John Howard says.
Former Prime Minister John Howard says Hong Kong’s protesters are inspirational, saying the ongoing anti-government demonstrations pose a test for an “increasingly authoritarian” regime in Beijing.
Speaking at the Diggers and Dealers mining conference in Kalgoorlie, where he delivered the keynote address, Mr Howard said Australia should favour its close relationship with the US over its economic ties with China, saying the shared values of the US and Australia made it the more important relationship.
“China remains an authoritarian country. But the economic importance of China to Australia is overwhelming, and we should never lose sight of that. Successive governments in Australia, from both sides of politics, have worked very effectively to keep a good balance in the relationship between the two societies,” he said.
“But it is getting harder, because the regime in China now is a lot more authoritarian than the one that was in power 10 years ago. And what we are seeing in Hong Kong perhaps represents a glimpse of the future for Chinese society.”
Mr Howard warned his successors in Canberra that there was a danger in becoming “mesmerised” by China and its story of economic growth, saying Australia should keep its own values in mind as it approached its relationship with Beijing.
“I’m almost inspired by the sight of so many hundreds and thousands of people peacefully demonstrating. When you think of the total population of Hong Kong and the number of people taking part in those demonstrations, it is a remarkable reminder of the resilience of the human spirit,” he said.
“I think it is something that will be very challenging to the authorities in Beijing and it is hard to see how it finally works itself out. It might be a reminder to all of us that this idea that you can somehow have some kind of hybrid model of government, whereby you have economic prosperity and economic liberty, but people are still told what to do, then maybe that hybrid model is not going to be very successful after all.”
Mr Howard’s comments came as Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam told the media the territory was on the “verge of a very dangerous situation,” and that the government would be resolute in maintaining order.
Violence between protesters and police spread across five districts over the weekend, with several police stations besieged and hundreds of residents pouring on to the streets to drive riot police from their neighbourhood.
Meanwhile at least 100 flights were cancelled and subway service widely disrupted in Hong Kong on Monday as a pro-democracy movement called for a general strike.
Cathay Pacific and other domestic carriers such as Hong Kong Airlines were the most affected by the flight cancellations, public broadcaster RTHK said. The airport express train service was also suspended.
A citywide strike and demonstrations in seven districts in Hong Kong have been called for Monday afternoon.
with Dow Jones Newswires, AP
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