Values at forefront of China relations

Marise Payne says the Morrison government will not turn a blind eye to human rights violations in China, and Australian values will be at the forefront.

Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne. Picture: Chris Pavlich

Marise Payne says the Morrison government will not turn a blind eye to human rights violations in China, and Australian values will be at the forefront of the nation’s efforts to shape the international order.

In a speech on Tuesday night, the Foreign Minister said Aust­ralia would not seek to interfere with other countries’ political ­systems but would call out bad ­behaviour when it saw it.

Senator Payne said countries that respected their own citizens’ rights at home “tend also to be better international citizens”.

“Those whose governments are accountable to their people are less likely to cause their ­people unnecessary suffering through reckless actions abroad,” she said.

She told the US Studies Centre in Sydney that Australia’s relationship with the US was “more important to us than ever”, but said Australia must “speak frankly” at times with the US to ensure the nations worked together to ensure regional stability.

Amid growing tensions with Beijing over foreign interference and intellectual property theft, Senator Payne said Australia and China had “very different” values.

She said Australia would manage­ its differences with China and take every opportunity to co-­operate with the rising Asian superpower because it was in the national interest. “We must respect each other’s sovereignty, but we will consistently continue to raise issues such as human rights, including with China,” Senator Payne said.

“We will do so not just because we believe individual rights should apply to all people, but because­ we believe nations that uphold such principles domestic­ally are more likely to co-operate in ways that promote the ­common good globally.”

She said Australia had tackled China on its treatment of ­minority Uighurs in Xinjiang province, where up to two million Muslims are detained in “re-education­” camps.

The government would also continue to advocate for detained Australian writer Yang Hengjun, who is being held by Beijing for ­alleged but unexplained spying offences.

Senator Payne said growing international tensions and challenges posed by new technologies and “hyperconnectivity” required deeper engagement with regional and like-minded powers.

“There are genuine risks to human rights if we don’t develop better rules and norms for the digital world,” she said.

Acknowledging US President Don­ald Trump’s deep unpopularity in Australia, Senator Payne said “some Australians will query the approaches taken at times by the current administration” but the US had “a record unmatched in modern times” for using its power for good.

“That is still the case,’’ she said. “We have high expectations of the superpower.

“And we still need its focused, deliberate and strategic engagement in our region.

“At times that will mean we must speak frankly with our powerful friend about how we work together to reassure others in the region and build support for shared objectives.”