Coronavirus: Morrison, Payne lobby for review of Chinese behaviour

Australia’s diplomatic push for an international investigation into the Chinese origins of coronavirus has begun.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne. Picture: Mick Tsikas/AAP

Scott Morrison and Foreign Minister Marise Payne have kicked off their diplomatic push for an ­international investigation into the Chinese origins of coronavirus, with the Prime Minister raising an independent review with Europe’s two top leaders and Microsoft founder Bill Gates.

China has vowed to block any efforts to investigate its role in ­allowing COVID-19 to spread to other nations, and former foreign minister Julie Bishop has warned that the communist nation and Russia will likely try to block any inquiry through the UN.

Government sources told The Australian that the Prime Minister on Tuesday night raised the need for an independent review with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron.

Writing in The Australian, ­Senator Payne says she will pursue a review in all her international engagemen­ts this week, as it is necessary to protect Australia’s sovereignty.

“It is in the nature of a new infectious disease that it has to start somewhere. In this case, that place was Wuhan in China,” she writes.

“Australia is well-placed to call for a transparent, international ­review into COVID-19 because we are a liberal democracy with a proud history of shaping constructive global co-operation.

“A global crisis like this one, with its ramifications for health, economies, human rights and social­ cohesion, underscores the importance of countries with our values of openness and transparency being active in inter­national fora.

“To call for answers is to protect our national interests, values and sovereignty.”

The Australian understands Senator Payne has not decided which international institution would be best placed to lead the coronavirus origins review, and some foreign policy analysts are concerned the UN would not show enough independence due to China’s power.

Ms Bishop — the nation’s chief diplomat under Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull — faced significant pushback from Russia when she fought for an international ­inquiry into the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 in 2014.

She told The Australian she strongly backed a review, but warned China and Russia would both make it difficult for any invest­igation to legally obtain any interviews or documents.

“It’s appropriate to have a ­review,’’ Ms Bishop said. “It’s ­important to learn if the virus’ impact­ would have changed if the Chinese authorities had made different­ decisions … and to invest­igate the role of the World Health Organisation.

“The challenge for any investig­ation is if China refuses to co-­operate. Then it will be very difficult to get access to documents and people to interview.

“You would need a legal authority and my experience tells me that both Russia and China would veto that on the UN Security Council.’’

China has made it clear that it would fight any attempt to investigate its role in the pandemic.

At a Beijing press briefing on Sunday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang claimed Senator Payne’s calls for a global inquiry were not based in facts and accused Australia of “dancing to the tune’’ of the US.