Give Labor China briefings to raise level of debate, says Peter Jennings

A think tank chief says it is in the national interest for the opposition to receive classified intelligence briefings about China.

Australian Strategic Policy Institute executive director Peter Jennings.

Peter Jennings, executive director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, says it is in the national interest for the opposition to receive classified intelligence briefings about China after an ALP split emerged over Canberra’s relationship with Beijing.

Mr Jennings told The Australian on Tuesday the briefing of Labor politicians by intelligence agencies would help build a ­national consensus amid increasing division on the Australia-China relationship.

The comments came after a split inside the ALP was exposed when veteran senator Kim Carr launched an assault on “Cold War warriors” and “Sino­phobes”, while calling for greater collaboration with Chinese researchers.

“I think the government should open the doors of its intelligence agencies to Labor at a classified level to build an appreciation of what is actually going on in China,” Mr Jennings said. “I think that would help because a lot of the government’s thinking is informed by that deep analysis and information.”

Mr Jennings said Australia needed to form a coherent position on China and called for a sensible national conversation on the relationship.

“Frankly, there is a range of different voices with quite radically different views emerging from the Labor Party right now, which is confusing and not particularly helpful for the national debate,” Mr Jennings said.

“There is a lot of confusion and people are generally uncertain about how to deal with this more assertive China that has emerged under Xi Jinping. What is needed is a sensible national conversation.

“I would welcome a situation where people such as Senator Carr do not instantly resort to claims someone is racist or a Sinophobe if you are not saying things that are positive about the Chinese Communist Party or military.”

Mr Jennings said Labor MPs should take a leaf out of opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman Penny Wong’s book, praising her for her “calm and logical” response to China.

On Monday, Senator Wong ­accused Scott Morrison of failing to have a “plan” to deal with the China relationship.