Australia ignored dossier of 14 grievances by China; now it is paying time

In a well-choreographed diplomatic drama, China leaked a dossier passed on to the government of Australia to selected newspapers in Canberra almost a year ago on and around November 18, 2020. Moments before that, Zhao Lijiang China foreign ministry spokesperson said China bears “no responsibility” for the collapse in bilateral ties between both countries.

He further implored by way of a comment that Australia must reflect seriously on the state of affairs of China-Australia relationship. While Oz sought to dismiss the dossier calling it in different nomenclature, such as threats, and diktats the fact remained that there is something serious and it is time to atone for the sins committed by Oz towards China. Analysts across the spectrum described it as geopolitical or geostrategic move.

For China what matters most is geoeconomics. This fact was lost on the Australian authorities. As a tip of the iceberg Oz should have forecast that in time China would drop Oz from its favoured nation treatment and any move that aggravates the present perilous situation would land Australia at the crosshairs of China for sure, and Oz might end up as an adversary to the risen China.

The entire list of the dossier of 14 grievances is available in the public domain and my preference is the one published in the voltairenet.org (Here)

Here are the topics that hover around geoeconomics amongst the 14 grievances listed by China:

a) Foreign investment decisions, with acquisitions blocked on opaque national security grounds in contravention of China Australia Free Trade Agreement  since 2018, more than 10 Chinese investment projects have been rejected by Australia citing ambiguous and unfounded "national security concerns" and putting restrictions in areas like infrastructure, agriculture and animal husbandry.

b) The decision banning Huawei Technologies and ZTE from the 5G network, over unfounded national security concerns, doing the bidding of the US by lobbying other countries.

c) Foreign interference legislation, viewed as targeting China and in the absence of any evidence.

d) Politicization and stigmatization of the normal exchanges and cooperation between China and Australia and creating barriers and imposing restrictions, including the revoke of visas for Chines scholars.

e)  The latest legislation to scrutinize agreements with a foreign government targeting towards China and aiming to torpedo the Victorian Participation in Bridge and Railway.

f) The early dawn search and reckless seizure of Chines journalist’s homes and properties without any charges and giving any explanations. 

g) Outrageous condemnation of the governing party of China by MPs and racist attacks against Chinese or Asian people.

h) An unfriendly or antagonistic report on China by media, poisoning the atmosphere of bilateral relations. 

Aftermath of what happened is now history. Australia is just pushed aside from China template as major geoeconomics partner in the Southern Pacific!

 

Cheers!

 

 

Muthu Ashraff Rajulu

Business Strategist

Mobile: + 94 777 265677

E-mail:   cosmicgems@gmail.com

Blog:   Business Strategist