It was meant to be China’s moment to “break Australia”. But instead it’s been labelled a “spectacular failure” that has only isolated Beijing further.
“I think China’s preference would have been to break Australia. To drive Australia to its knees,” US National Security Council Indo-Pacific affairs advisor Kurt Campbell said earlier this month. “I don’t believe that’s going to be the way it’s going to play out.”“The bottom line: Beijing’s attempt to bully Canberra has been a spectacular failure,” says USAsia Centre research director Jeffrey Wilson.
Beijing can no longer rely on Australia being silenced by self-interest, with tens of billions of dollars worth of trade being used as political leverage. “Australia’s response to China will have to both be measured against those of its other international friends and press ahead where it must,” wrote Mr Eliason.
And those “sacred values” must be proven to be respected by Canberra in its own behaviour. Or else it may trigger a public opinion “backfire”. Concern about the economic cost of standing up for such principles is declining. As one market closes its doors, others tend to open elsewhere on the international stage.
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