Worry at Premier’s defence of China

THE Greens have questioned whether Premier Will Hodgman is a “fool, naive or a coward” after he expressed an interest in helping boost China’s work in the Antarctic and suggested widespread concerns about the communist nation’s presence in the region were not grounded in reality.

Speaking to The Australian from Beijing, Mr Hodgman said he believed concerns raised by academics about the Chinese Communist Party’s interest in Antarctica “don’t stack up”.

Tasmania had signed a memorandum of understanding with China’s State Oceanic Administration to co-operate in areas including science, research and logistics, Mr Hodgman said, lobbying for Hobart to be used as a supply base for China’s work in Antarctica.

Australian Strategic Policy Institute executive director Peter Jennings said researchers were concerned about China’s expansion in the Antarctic.

The head of the independent defence think tank suggested Mr Hodgman request a briefing from federal intelligence agencies on the issue.

“A lot of this is designed in the benign language of scientific co-operation, but I think there are people who are concerned — and I’m one of them — that China is scoping out the continent for resources,” Mr Jennings said.

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor accused Mr Hodgman of failing to act in the national interest. “Will Hodgman is either a fool, or he is naive, or he is a coward,” Ms O’Connor said.

She said a quick literature search from organisations such as the Strategic Policy Institute would show “China has conducted undeclared military activities in Antarctica, it is engaging in minerals exploration, and it hasn’t ruled out its right to make territorial claim in Antarctica”.

The federal Foreign Affairs Department said Australia had a strong relationship with China in Antarctica and described the Antarctic Treaty — of which China is a signatory — as “relevant and vital”.

Mr Hodgman is in China on a $200,000 trade mission.