Thayer Consultancy Background Brief:

ABN # 65 648 097 123

China Shoots Itself in the Foot in
Its Attacks on Australia
Carlyle A. Thayer
December 2, 2020

The Australian Labor Party wants Prime Minister Scott Morrison to fix the relationship
with China. We seek your insights into the state of play by the two parties forming the
Coalition Government. Do they all agree with what the prime minister is doing, or do
some want an adjustment in policy so that bilateral relations can be improved?
ANSWER: It has been the consistent policy of the Australian Labor Party to criticise the
Prime Minister for the deterioration of relations with China and to urge the PM to
open a dialogue to repair relations. For example, Penny Wong, Labor spokesperson
for foreign affairs, called for a calm and strategic response to China’s provocations.
The Coalition is a slightly different story because it is a working relationship between
two separate political parties. The National Party has its base in rural areas. It is
concerned that China’s tariffs on agricultural and marine products will
disproportionately impact on its supporters. There are often tensions and public
disagreement between coalition parties, this is quite normal.
Big business generally supports the Liberal Party and has been vocal in urging the
Morrison government to take the initiative to open a dialogue with China. It is
pressure from the business community that led the Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and
Trade Minister Simon Birmingham to make conciliatory public remarks directed at
China and the Prime Minister’s use of the Mandarin-language WeChat to appeal to
the Chinese community in Australia.
All political parties exercise control over their backbenchers, that is, members of
Parliament who are not in Cabinet or the Shadow Cabinet (opposition). They are
expected to refrain from criticising the Government and show support, especially
when Parliament is in session.
However, robust discussion does take place within the party room when leaders are
asked to explain and defend their policies. China’s tariffs impact on particular
industries – meat, wheat, barley, crayfish, and coal – and on particular constituencies.
Here the local Member of Parliament would be sensitive to constituents whose
interests have been negatively affected.
Counter to this are Members of Parliament and ministers responsible for national
security whose main concern is the threat posed by China on Australia’s national
sovereignty.
 2

China’s recent release of fourteenn grievances against Australia and the posting of the
fake photo of an Australian soldier cutting the throat of a young Afghan child have
created a political uproar in this country. Prime Minister Morrison has demanded that
China apologise. In these circumstances it is not surprising that all political parties have
rallied around the PM and condemned China. China’s actions are deeply offensive to
public opinion and all political parties will give support to the Prime Minister. His
position will be strengthened by the support from the New Zealand government and
the American ambassador.

Suggested citation: Carlyle A. Thayer, “China Shoots Itself in the Foot in Its Attacks on
Australia,” Thayer Consultancy Background Brief, December 2, 2020. All background
briefs are posted on Scribd.com (search for Thayer). To remove yourself from the
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Thayer Consultancy provides political analysis of current regional security issues and
other research support to selected clients. Thayer Consultancy was officially
registered as a small business in Australia in 2002.