For China in its present mood, too much abuse is never enough

Illustration: Johannes Leak

Beijing’s decision to end all contacts under the China Australia Strategic Economic Dialogue is the new normal in this now permanently troubled relationship.

For the past 12 months, Beijing has found a reason to criticise or act against Australia almost on a weekly basis. That past certainly looks to be the pattern for the ­future as well. Cue another 12 months of abuse.

Of course, cancelling a formal dialogue that you’ve refused to participate in for the past four years, and after 12 months when you won’t speak at ministerial level at all, demonstrates a good deal of what the Pentagon used to call “redundant capacity”.

For Beijing in its present mood, too much abuse is never enough.

This cancellation was notable for its explicit political justifi­cation. There was no nonsensical justification about Australian coal being too dirty, or our pineapples too spiky, or our wine too flavoursome or whatever.

This action was taken, according to official Chinese statements, because of Australia’s “Cold War mentality” and its “ideological discrimination against China”.

Chinese President Xi Jinping. Beijing’s Wolf Warrior diplomacy has caused acute difficulty for countries around the world. Picture: AFP

Beijing is particularly cross about the federal government’s recent decision to quash the Victorian government’s agreement to participate in Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative. This initial Victorian sign-on to Belt and Road, against national policy, must rank as one of the worst decisions undertaken by a state government in Australia.

It was never going to deliver anything for Victoria but it gave Beijing what it wanted — division in Australia and now an excuse for more anti-Australian actions.

However, it is most likely that Beijing is engaging in not very subtle strategic signalling about its view of the Australian review of the Chinese-owned Landbridge lease of the Port of Darwin.

Following consideration by the National Security Committee of cabinet, Defence Minister, Peter Dutton has asked his department to review the 2015 decision to grant the 99-year lease to a Chinese-owned company.

The national security community in Canberra regards that as a bad decision and one that would not be made today. There is an emerging official consensus that China should not own any critical infrastructure in Australia.

Beijing would not like to lose that lease, mainly because of the reputational damage it would do to China internationally.

Beijing’s Wolf Warrior diplomacy has caused acute difficulty for countries around the world.

Many are looking askance at how much influence they have allowed Beijing to accumulate. therefore a decision by Canberra to rescind the Port of Darwin lease, even if full and fair compensation were paid to Landbridge, would have significance for Beijing far beyond Australia.

Without the Australian government engaging in international advocacy, it would damage Beijing’s ability to replicate such arrangements in other nations.

The Chinese government no longer feels it has any stake in good relations with Australia.

The China Australia free-trade agreement has delivered market access for Australia but it has not delivered enhanced investment access into Australia for China.

This is because Beijing’s actions have made such investments increasingly problematic.

Beijing does not want Australia providing ideas to other nat­ions about how they should respond to bullying tactics so sending a signal on the port lease is an element of its motivation.

Yet Beijing might reflect that this has had the perverse result of making it more difficult for ­Canberra to do nothing and look as though it has buckled to intimidation.