China ‘throwing its weight around’, Howard warns

The former prime minister says China has taken ‘a different path’ under Xi Jinping and backed the Morrison government’s $270bn boost to defence spending.

John Howard backs the Morrison government’s $270bn boost to defence spending. Picture: Travis Anderson

China is becoming more authoritarian and increasingly determined to “throw its weight around”, John Howard has warned.

Mr Howard said China had changed significantly since his tenure as prime minister.

Chinese presidents Hu Jintao Jiang Zemin had “looked for co-operation, and you saw the possibility of building, pragmatically albeit, building a close relationship between the two countries and the West”, Mr Howard said.

“But under Xi Jinping, China has become more authoritarian internally, it is more assertive in the region, it is throwing its weight around,” he added.

“And we have to recognise that and, consistent with that, continue to toil away at keeping the bilateral relationship together.

“It’s very important we don’t give up a practical relationship with China.”

Ties between Australia and China have deteriorated since the Morrison became the first to call for an independent investigation into the origins of COVID-19.

China slapped an 80 per cent tariff on barley producers, banned four beef exporters and urged its students not to study in Australia.

China vowed to take countermeasures against Britain on Thursday if it presses ahead with plans to extend citizenship rights to Hong Kongers after Beijing imposed a sweeping security law on the restless financial hub.

Beijing has faced a groundswell of criticism from primarily Western nations over its decision to impose a new law outlawing acts of subversion, secession, terrorism and colluding with foreign forces.

Adding to concerns, Hong Kong’s influential Bar Association published a new legal analysis warning that the wording of the law — which was kept secret until Tuesday — undermines the city’s independent judiciary and stifles freedoms.

Mr Morrison said Australia would also consider giving safe haven to Hong Kong citizens.

Mr Howard said the Morrison government was right to announce a $270bn boost to defence spending.

“My instinct is China has taken a different path under Xi Jinping and I would be surprised if it alters its attitude,” he said.

“It would be more likely to alter its attitude if it sees resistance, it’ll keep going in the same direction it is currently headed if it sees no resistance.

“And that is why I think the attitude taken by the government regarding foreign interference, I think the defence announcement made by the prime minister yesterday, they are all very important.”