Former prime minister John Howard has warned China is becoming more authoritarian under President Xi Jinping’s leadership, with Beijing increasingly determined to “throw its weight around” the Asia-Pacific region. In an exclusive interview with Sky News, Mr Howard said China has changed significantly since his tenure as prime minister. "Under President Xi Jinping’s two predecessors, Hu Jintao Jiang Zemin, China's attitude towards the west was very different," he said. "They were both dedicated communist, Marxist, Leninist and so forth, no doubt about that, but they looked for cooperation, and you saw the possibility of building, pragmatically albeit, building a close relationship between the two countries and the west. "But under Xi Jinping, China has become more authoritarian internally, it is more assertive in the region, it is throwing its weight around. "And we have to recognise that, and consistent with that, continue to toil away at keeping the bilateral relationship together. "It’s very important we don't give up a practical relationship with China." Australia and China’s bilateral relationship has soured since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis. The worsening of trade relations comes as Australia was the first nation to call for an independent investigation into the origins of COVID-19. China recently slapped an 80 per cent tariff on barley producers, banned four beef exporters and urged its students not to study in Australia. Beijing has also been more assertive in the region, exemplified by its decision to make it illegal for anyone in Hong Kong to engage in secessionist, subversive, or "terrorist" activities. Experts claim the new law breaches the Sino-British Joint Declaration which was signed in 1984, which gave Hong Kong almost full autonomy for 50 years after Britain handed the territory back to China in 1997. Mr Howard said the Morrison government was right to announce a $270 billion boost to defence spending in the wake of China’s growing bellicosity. “My instinct is China has taken a different path under Xi Jinping and I would be surprised if it alters its attitude," he said. "It would be more likely to alter its attitude if it sees resistance, it’ll keep going in the same direction it is currently headed if it sees no resistance. And that is why I think the attitude taken by the government regarding foreign interference, I think the defence announcement made by the prime minister yesterday, they are all very important.”

Be the first to comment