Turnbull: China no ‘threat’ to Aust
"We don't see the region through what is frankly an out-of-date Cold War prism. "Malcolm Turnbull, Australian Prime Minister
AUSTRALIA: Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has dismissed the idea China presents a ‘‘threat’’ to Australia despite new moves by United States authorities to counter Chinese political influence, ahead of his talks on regional security with President Donald Trump this week.
Turnbull warned against a ‘‘Cold War’’ view of China and sought to emphasise its role in preventing a nuclear crisis with North Korea, which he described as the ‘‘first’’ priority in dealing with strategic threats to Australia.
‘‘A threat, technically, is a combination of capability and intent. China has enormous capability of course, it’s growing as the country becomes moreprosperous and economically stronger. But we do not see any hostile intent from China,’’ Turnbull said ahead of his visit to Washington DC.
‘‘We don’t see the region through what is frankly an out-ofdate Cold War prism. Neither, by the way, does Donald Trump. President Trump has a long experience in this part of the world as a businessman. He understands the significance, the economic significance, of China’s rise and its opportunity.’’
The US investigation into Russian interference in last year’s presidential election has overshadowed concerns about China, but US authorities remain worried by Chinese political influence, foreign investment and trade policy.
A bipartisan group in Congress introduced bills last November to toughen US investment laws out of concern over big Chinese deals, echoing actions in Australia over the last decade to set new hurdles for Chinese and other state-owned enterprises or real estate buyers.
US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, who will meet Turnbull today, has outlined plans to impose new tariffs on steel and aluminium, amid claims in the US that China does not act fairly under World Trade Organisation rules.
Andrew Shearer, senior adviser on Asia-Pacific security at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington DC, said Turnbull could respond to the US concerns over China to push for more engagement with the region and a rethink on the Trans-Pacific Partnership deal.
‘‘People in Washington have been very focused on the reports from Australia about China’s political interference in Australia and the government’s robust response to that,’’ said Shearer, who served as national security adviser to John Howard and later Tony Abbott in the Prime Minister’s Office.
‘‘We’ve seen reports that the US is now conducting some of its own investigations about China’s political activities in the US and, at least in part, that’s been triggered by what’s been happening in Australia.’’
Shearer said a view was spreading beyond the Trump administration to include Congress, the security community and business that a ‘‘tipping point’’ had been reached in the relationship with China.
‘‘You’ll see that the United States now regards China firmly as a strategic competitor,’’ he said.
While Turnbull suggested his approach was similar to that of Trump, the US appears to be taking a more sceptical approach to China. While Australia gains from huge exports to China, many in the US regard China’s manufacturing exports as a threat.
Turnbull named the TransPacific Partnership trade agreement as a key way to cement a ‘‘rules-based order’’ in the region and restated his hope the US would sign up to the deal despite Trump’s fierce objections to it over the last year.
‘‘Down the track it’d be great if the US were able to rejoin,’’ Turnbull said.
‘‘I don’t think that’s going to happen anytime soon, but we’ve structured the TPP 11 so other countries can dock in. – Fairfax