Scott Morrison issues warning to China on Taiwan in Washington speech

Former PM Scott Morrison has told a Washington-based think tank China has an “enormous amount to lose by getting it wrong” on Taiwan.

Scott Morrison has warned the Chinese Communist Party’s desire to retake control of Taiwan risks “mutually assured destruction” – but that China would pay the ultimate price.

The former prime minister has also called on world leaders to stop letting China off its responsibilities to tackle climate change by treating it as a developing country.

In a blunt speech in Washington DC, Mr Morrison rejected any “leave passes” in the global trade system for state-centred economies including on cutting carbon emissions.

“If you can build aircraft carriers, you can reduce your emissions,” he said.

Scott Morrison speaking at the Hudson Institute in Washington. Picture: Twitter

Appearing at the Hudson Institute, one of several speaking gigs he has accepted overseas since losing the May election, Mr Morrison declared China had an “enormous amount to lose by getting it wrong” on Taiwan.

He suggested this would include the collapse of financial markets that would devastate the Chinese economy, pointing to estimates that conflict over Taiwan could slash the size of China’s economy by 25–35 per cent compared to a 5-10 per cent impact on the US.

“There is a mutually assured destruction when it comes to questions regarding Taiwan,” Mr Morrison said.

“I don’t believe everyone is prepared to risk everything in China on that issue.”

Scott Morrison speaking with the Hudson Institute’s China Center director Miles Yu. Picture: Twitter

Mr Morrison, who was recently made a member of the Hudson Institute’s China Center strategic advisory board, used his speech to spruik his government’s hardline response to being “on the front line of the grey zone” in dealing with China.

He lashed out at the Chinese government’s “very unlawful trade sanctions and bans which were intended to punish Australia”, and said he would never back down on opposing China’s push for Australia to give in on a series of 14 grievances.

“No self-respecting representative democracy … could ever concede on any of those points,” Mr Morrison said.

“I will forever be grateful to the Australian people for the extraordinary support they showed to me and my government over that period of time.”

The former prime minister welcomed his successor Anthony Albanese’s recent meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, although he urged a cautious approach from the new Labor government.

“I wouldn’t want to mistake that as being a change of direction … I would note that it is a change of tactic, and China’s intent has not changed,” Mr Morrison said.

Contrasting Mr Xi with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who he described as a “gang leader or a thug”, Mr Morrison said world leaders needed to remember that the Chinese leader believed “very much in what he’s doing”.

“President Xi’s agenda is … quite personal and he is highly motivated,” Mr Morrison said, adding that Mr Xi’s plan had a “political and biological use-by date” that was driving his actions.

Originally published as Scott Morrison issues warning to China on Taiwan in Washington speech