Kean rejects PM’s neutral stance over Taiwan struggle

The NSW Environment Minister has taken a swipe at Scott Morrison over his refusal to say whether Australia supported Taiwan in its struggle against China.

NSW Environment Minister Matt Kean. Picture: John Feder

NSW Environment Minister Matt Kean has taken a swipe at Scott Morrison over his refusal to say whether Australia supported Taiwan in its struggle against China.

Mr Kean, who has regularly clashed with the Prime Minister on environmental and energy issues, told the NSW Young Liberals Ball on Saturday night that the Chinese Communist Party posed a “challenge to our values and our way of life”.

He said Australia should be prepared to call out the CCP’s threats to international law and human rights wherever they occurred.

“We should always stand with those who seek freedom — and we should stand for the freedoms of the people of Taiwan and Hong Kong,” Mr Kean said.

“In fact, we should equally support both Taiwan and the people of Hong Kong, because at their core their pursuit is our pursuit.”

His comments follow Mr Morrison’s mischaracterisation of Australian foreign policy earlier this month, declaring Australia backed a “One Country, Two Systems” model in relation to Taiwan.

In fact, the policy refers to Australia’s acceptance of Chinese governance over Hong Kong subject to a high level of autonomy, which Beijing has recently breached.

The government has heavily criticised the Chinese government for its new national security law in Hong Kong as “a clear breach” of “One Country, Two Systems”.

But Mr Morrison steadfastly refused to say whether Australia stood with Taiwan, which it does not recognise as a sovereign state, declaring “I don’t wish to add to any uncertainty”.

Mr Kean said Liberals should “speak out when you see people turning a blind eye to the abuse of our freedoms and democracy”.

“It is going to fall on our generation to show once again that free democratic societies are the path not only to individual liberty but to prosperity and security.

“It is essential that Liberals like us stand up and meet this challenge, because they are Liberal values, our values, that are at stake.

“And to do that we need to stay true to our principles.”