Some blunt words but the China friendship remains firm

With characteristic bluntness, Dennis Richardson has asked the Chinese government the central question: why on earth is it building all these artificial islands, land reclamation structures and runways in the disputed territory of the South China Sea?

Richardson tartly answers his own question: “Tourism appears unlikely.

“Given the size and modernisation of China’s military, the use by China of land reclamation for military purposes would be of particular concern.”

This takes the Australian government’s position further than has been articulated previously but it builds on equally clear recent statements by Defence Minister Kevin Andrews.

Canberra takes no position on the competing territorial claims in the South China Sea but it objects to unilateral and coercive actions. It objects to Beijing trying to “change facts on the ground” without a proper adjudication, settlement or even clarification of the claims.

And, as Richardson points out, China has reclaimed more than four times the land of the five other claimants combined, and with more coast guard and law enforcement vessels present than all the other regional nations combined. This is seriously concerning.

Apart from an entirely legitimate general concern with peace and stability in the region, Canberra is right to be worried about the South China Sea because more than half our merchandise trade travels through it.

Where does all this leave Australia in its standing between the US and China? Richardson offers a simple but profound formulation. We are “friends of both, an ally of one”.

Lately there has been some hysterical commentary because China is seeking to ensure Brazil remains an iron ore supplier. There is no real evidence this has anything to do with our alliance with the US.

When you are a huge buyer in a limited market, it is in your commercial interests to keep as many suppliers in the game as possible.

Our iron ore is better quality than Brazil’s, we are much closer to Asia and we are an absolutely reliable supplier.

China plays hardball commercially.

There is no evidence that it plays harder ball because we have a capable military ally in the US.