Australia-China relations: attempts to strong-arm Canberra only damage Beijing’s standing, ex-PM Malcolm Turnbull warns

Name: Australia ditched diplomacy for ‘adversarial approach’ to China and ‘a pat on the head’ from US
Uploaded: 2020-11-26T22:00:18.000Z
Duration: 7 min 55 s
Description: Australia ditched diplomacy for ‘adversarial approach’ to China and ‘a pat on the head’ from US

Turnbull, who led Australia from 2015 to 2018, called China’s export restrictions and public airing of grievances ‘counterproductive’

The long-time climate action advocate backed Beijing’s bid to go carbon neutral, and rejected suggestions the downward spiral in ties started during his time in office

Reading Time:4 minutes

Why you can trust SCMP

Then Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull attends an Australia China Business Council event in 2018. Photo: EPA

John Power

Published: 6:00am, 27 Nov 2020Updated: 9:19pm, 27 Nov 2020

Australia’s former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has warned that attempts to strong-arm Canberra into changing policy will fail and only damage Beijing’s standing abroad, even as the long-time climate-action advocate backed China’s bid to become carbon neutral by 2060.

Speaking to This Week in Asia as Sino-Australian ties hit their lowest ebb in decades, Turnbull also rejected critics’ suggestions – including those made this week by former foreign minister Bob Carr – that he had kick-started the downward spiral in bilateral ties during his tenure in office.

Turnbull said Beijing’s recent restrictions on Australian exports and public airing of grievances over Australian government policy were counterproductive and would not win concessions from Canberra.

“The fundamental point is this: when someone tries to coerce you or bully you, threaten you, you can’t take a backward step,” he said.

“If you do, then all that will do is invite more coercive activity. The best thing that can happen, frankly, is for this episode to come to an end, and for Australia and China to get back to a traditional, businesslike relationship.”

07:55

Australia ditched diplomacy for ‘adversarial approach’ to China and ‘a pat on the head’ from US

Turnbull, who led Australia between 2015 and 2018, said Beijing’s aggressive approach to foreign policy had weakened its influence overseas, scuppering the opportunity to capitalise on the uncertainty about the United States’ role as a global leader caused by outgoing President Donald Trump.

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x