Despite ‘bully’ Xi Jinping, John Howard reinforces importance of China ties

John Howard concedes China’s behaviour, growing military capabilities spurred Australia’s $270bn defence investment.

Former Australian Prime Minister John Howard and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Picture: Kym Smith/AFP

John Howard has branded Xi Jinping a “bully” and accused China of “belligerence”, but warns Australia can’t lose sight of its “tremendously important” economic relationship with China.

Former Labor leader Kim Beazley backed the assessment during an online conference on Wednesday, declaring China’s behaviour under President Xi was generating global pushback, but Australia needed to avoid having to make a choice between its United States’ and China relationships.

Mr Howard told the Australian Strategic Policy Institute webinar that he “profoundly rejected” the idea that the world was entering a post-American phase, saying China faced serious challenges including a rapidly ageing population.

The former prime minister said Donald Trump had handled the coronavirus poorly, and he lacked the important presidential quality of “public grace”.

But he said he believed Democrat candidate Joe Biden “gives the impression he would find the job hard to handle”, and was “not a convincing alternative”.

Mr Beazley, the Governor of Western Australia and a former ambassador to the US, said Mr Trump was “in trouble” as the November presidential election approached, and he believed Mr Biden was “as prepared for presidency as anyone can be”.

The first of a series of ASPI Strategic Vision 2020 panels comes as the Morrison government ploughs $270 billion into modernising Australia’s defences over the next decade, amid rising concerns about China’s behaviour and growing military capabilities.

Mr Howard said “Chinese belligerence” was driving Australia’s defence build-up “to some degree”.

But, while he deplored the fact China had an authoritarian government, he said he believed the country was ultimately good for the world, and a vital partner for Australia.

He said President Xi looked at the world differently to his predecessors, Hu Jintao and Jiang Zemin.

“They didn’t bully anywhere near to the same degree as does their successor (Xi),” he said.

But he said Australia had to live with China, and should take a pragmatic approach to its dealings with the country.

“We must remember the endgame, and the endgame is to maintain, to the maximum extent consistent with our values, a good economic relationship with China,” Mr Howard said.

Mr Beazley said many would like to see Australia reduce its reliance on China, “but the fact of the matter is we can’t”.

“At least in no time soon can we do that,” he said.

Mr Beazley praised Scott Morrison’s handling of the pandemic, saying Australia was “emerging as a substantial middle power” due to “the common sense of our leadership”.

“I don’t think you can point to any other country around the globe frankly apart from Taiwan and South Korea … where the political leadership has tried to take less advantage politically of the opportunities that have emerged, and to stress more unity.”