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Simon Benson

Beijing weakened as world frowns at offensive actions

Simon Benson
Scott Morrison has responded in a cool-headed way, despite his deep personal anger. Picture: Adam Taylor
Scott Morrison has responded in a cool-headed way, despite his deep personal anger. Picture: Adam Taylor

Whether it was the rogue act of a witless official or a sanctioned escalation in the phony trade war against Australia, all eyes are firmly focused on China.

Either way, the diplomatic scales have tipped heavily in Scott Morrison’s favour.

As the world looks on, Beijing’s position has been demonstrably weakened. Its credibility is in tatters and it has lost the moral argument in its dispute with Canberra. How it responds from here may determine the course of its relationships not only with Australia but other Western democracies.

The early signs were not encouraging of a possibility for the mature repositioning by the Chinese leadership. It is hard to imagine any scenario that could serve as a justification for the deliberate offence that the doctored tweet sought to inflict.

Scott Morrison demands apology from China for doctored ADF propaganda

What has been the primary and underlying grievance? That Australia’s Prime Minister asked for a global inquiry into the origins and early management of a virus that has killed 1.5 million people and destroyed the world’s economy?

Before this, regional leaders and key allies had been expressing support privately to Scott Morrison and their shock at China’s impetuous and increasingly aggressive actions.

Its list of 14 demands last week would have been justification to re-examine diplomatic ties. The fake photo of the Australian soldier has not only raised it to a new level but injected a sophomoric understanding of the West.

Beijing has unintentionally signalled a great weakness. It clearly has no playbook for how to deal with a country that refuses to acquiesce to power used irresponsibly.

China uses the 'coward's preferred platform' to send 'disgraceful' slur

Morrison has responded in a cool-headed way that was the only way he could respond, despite his deep personal anger. It has afforded him significant moral authority in the face of increasingly hysterical behaviour. To retaliate with a break in diplomatic ties as some have suggested would have delivered a victory to Beijing if indeed its strategy is to keep escalating and provoking until it can force Morrison to buckle or elicit a retaliatory response for which it can then blame Australia.

The message of reassurance from Western allies is they are watching with rising concern.

Morrison has made it clear that, while he is ready to talk to Xi Jinping, he will never submit to conditional dialogue.

Beijing has signalled that it has no intention of apologising.

It is hard to see how any of this can be undone.

Read related topics:China TiesScott Morrison

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Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/exclusives/beijing-weakened-as-world-frowns-at-offensive-actions/news-story/920a93d46aedfb212104acdbb093f212