Australians ‘going to sleep’ on China threat, Morrison tells US Congress

Washington: Former prime minister Scott Morrison has told the United States Congress that Australians are at risk of “going to sleep” on the security threat posed by China, and warned the US and its allies they must be prepared to wear economic pain to stand up to Beijing.

Appearing before a congressional hearing on the Chinese Communist Party, Morrison cited polling by the Lowy Institute that showed, in 2025, 50 per cent of Australians said China was “more of an economic partner to Australia”, whereas 47 per cent said it was “more of a security threat”.

That had changed significantly from 2021-22, a time of strained relations between Canberra and Beijing, when 63 per cent said China was more of a security threat and 33 per cent said it was more of an economic partner.

“That is an objective of the CCP – that Western democracies will go to sleep on the threat,” Morrison told the hearing.

“You need to build the internal resilience, and that means an appreciation of the potential threat. And that is somewhat in jeopardy in Australia.”

Later, he told reporters that Australians’ level of awareness of the security threat posed by China had clearly diminished significantly over the past three years.

Former prime minister Scott Morrison speaks to a select committee on China hearing in Washington on Wednesday (Thursday AEST).Credit: AP

Morrison, whose call for an inquiry into the origins of COVID-19 roiled Beijing, told US lawmakers that China had chosen to make an example of Australia as a key US ally – “to punish Australia as a warning to others”.

He said he was proud that his government had resisted this pressure “by standing firm, rather than acquiescence and appeasement”, and encouraged other leaders to do the same.

“There are many lessons from our experience,” Morrison said. “Above all, I would highlight the need to never become casual about the potential threat, and to remain vigilant.

“Discussion is fine, engagement is good, it’s better than the alternative. But if we think that is going to produce a change in the mindset in Beijing about what the objectives are, then we’re frankly kidding ourselves.”

Morrison gave the Albanese government no credit for improving relations, arguing instead that Beijing took advantage of the change in government in 2022 to reset its failing coercive tactics.

“This included abandoning their economic and diplomatic bullying for more inductive engagement, laced with charm and flattery,” he told the hearing.

Australia’s relations with China have thawed under Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Beijing has ended its trade bans. Albanese just returned from a six-day visit that included a meeting with President Xi Jinping.

Morrison told reporters that the relationship with China – Australia’s largest trading partner – deteriorated on his watch “because of the actions of China, not the actions of Australia”.

“You don’t thank someone for stopping punching you in the face,” he said.

The former prime minister warned lawmakers that standing up to the CCP came at an economic cost.

He said he was encouraged by letters he had received from Australian farmers hit by China’s trade bans – on products such as barley, beef and wine – who told him he was doing the right thing, despite the hurt.

“If you’re going to stand up here, you’ve got to be prepared to take a few hits in the process,” he said. “But you’re much more able to do that if you can take hits with your mates, and your mates have got to show up as well.”

It is rare for former government leaders to provide evidence to a congressional inquiry. Morrison said he was appearing in a personal capacity.

Since leaving office, he has joined defence advisory firm American Global Strategies as non-executive vice chairman, and he chairs the advisory board of Space Centre Australia.

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