China needs to make clear that it “does not support” the invasion of sovereign nations as Australia looks to foster a “stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region”, Defence Minister Richard Marles will say in a speech on Saturday.
Mr Marles will speak at the ISS Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore where he will deliver his warning to China amid heightened tensions in the Indo-Pacific region.
The Defence Minister will take a strong stance against the nation’s expansionism while offering an olive branch to Australia’s largest trading partner.
“There has been a view, sometimes expressed by Chinese officials, that the West is asking China to help defeat Russia so it then has a freer hand to defeat China itself,” he will say.
“This view is reliant on the idea of indelible Western hostility to China. That is totally wrong. The economic rise of China has raised hundreds of millions of people out of poverty. In the process, it has been a source of economic prosperity for many countries, including Australia.”
While Mr Marles will reach out to China, he will also touch on its military showboating in the Indo-Pacific region.
The Labor MP will spotlight the nation’s use of water cannons against the Philippine ships, something he describes as a “serious escalation of tensions,” alongside its intimidation of Taiwan and harassment of Australian army personnel.
“PLA (People’s Liberation Army) exercises that practice attacks and blockades of Taiwan do not inspire confidence that China prioritises – or is planning for – a peaceful settlement to the status of this island and its 22 million people,” he will say.
The Defence Minister will also echo talking points raised by leaders in the United States and Europe about China’s support of Russia.
“China making clear – in word and deed – that it does not support the invasion of a sovereign country in violation of the UN Charter, consistent with China’s own longstanding commitment to the Charter’s founding principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity, would be a huge vote of confidence in Chinese regional and global leadership,” the Defence Minister will say.
“The importance of this cannot be overstated. Confidence – and indeed trust – in Chinese leadership will be the single most important ingredient to the maintenance of the global rules based order. And by extension it will be at the heart of building a stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.”
Mr Marles’ speech comes days after China announced it was dropping its ban on most of Australia’s beef.
Agriculture Minister Murray Watt confirmed on Thursday morning that Australia’s biggest trading partner lifted bans on beef imports from five major meat producers, with two still suspended.
“That is fantastic news for the cattle producers, for the meat processing industry and for the workers in those industries and, of course, for Australian exports,” Mr Watt said.
China implemented bans on Australian beef across 2020 and 2021 amid diplomatic tensions with Australia.
Mr Watt and the Minister for Trade Don Farrell said the Labor government will continue to press China to remove the remaining trade impediments, particularly for Australia’s rock lobster industry.
In total, eight beef processing facilities have now had suspensions lifted, while two facilities remain suspended.