An area that concerns me is Chinese criticism of Australia concerning the racism element of their diplomacy. They are engaging in economic coercion with Australia under the guise of racism as they are angry of Australian government calls for an independent enquiry into the origins of the coronavirus. The international community is aware of CCP attempts to cover up news the spread of coronavirus in China, it did get out and infect the world, that is a known fact, what we want to know is how it began so we can prevent it happening in the future.

What the CCP is doing is engaging in a new and aggressive style of diplomacy that is really not doing anyone any good. This arrogant attitude of the CCP believing how dare Australia call into question Xi Jinping’s handling of the coronavirus. The whole world has been affected by this pandemic, millions of people infected and the deaths have not finished yet.

The CCP, the Chinese Communist Party is deplorable but we need to ensure this is not reflected in the treatment of Chinese people. They are suffering too, nobody believes CCP figures regarding infection rates in China. Notwithstanding, the economic slowdown in China is hurting their people too, this may cause an uprising but this is unlikely given the level of surveillance in the country.

Through free trade, the people of China have enjoyed economic success pulling millions out of abject poverty and this has damaged the livelihoods of inhabitants of industrialised countries. China has been allowed in international trading organisations and abused every opportunity from currency manipulation, forced technology transfer, intellectual property theft and dumping.

Let me be clear here, we have no issues with Chinese people, the strategy and tactics of the CCP borders on disgraceful but we have no issues with the citizens of China. Now, I must also address that issues have occurred in Australia against Chinese and Singaporean students and just about every Australian deplores these attacks – these are not on.

What you would expect the CCP to do during the trade war with the US is improve relationships with its trading partners of Australia, Japan, India and the EU to drive a wedge between allies to isolate the US. Instead, the arrogance of the CCP intends to coerce all countries that don’t fit their philosophy that will force countries to create trading partnerships isolating China.