Scott Morrison says China is watching the unfolding Russian invasion of Ukraine “very carefully” amid concerns Taiwan could be targeted next.
In the wake of Vladimir Putin’s decree to send Russian troops into eastern Ukraine on “peacekeeping missions” – which the West has broadly seen as the first move of a Russian invasion – concerns have mounted about what it could mean in the Asia-Pacific.
China has not followed the United States, Unitedxjmtzyw Kingdom, European Union nations, Australia and others in imposing sanctions on Russia.
That’s despite world leaders calling on Chinese President Xi Jinping to do so.
There are fears Taiwan’s territorial integrity could be undermined by China in a similar way to that of the Ukraine by Russia.
Despite Mr Morrison cautioning against drawing parallels, he said China should “not even think” about invading Taiwan.
“I believe China is of course watching this very carefully, and that is why I have been at pains to say that China needs to take as strong as a position as other countries in denouncing what Russia is doing,” Mr Morrison told Seven.
“I welcome the fact that China has so far said that tensions should be de-escalated, but they need to go further and denounce threats of violence and any suggestion that there is any provocation for this.
“Bullying, wherever it is occurring and particularly in our own region, is something that I and my government have stood up against.”
Mr Morrison said China had an “important role” to play in denouncing bullying and threats of violence.
“The point I would make is countries that seek to bully and threaten and don’t call out those countries, that is concerning,” Mr Morrison told the Nine Network.
“Silence on that issue is very concerning in our part of the world. But all countries in our region want to know that those who are a lot bigger than us are going to act in a responsible way and denounce bullying and intimidation.”
Earlier, Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie said while the whole world was concentrating on the crisis unfolding in eastern Europe, it shouldn’t take its eye off China and Taiwan.
“Because my goodness, if you have got both of them going, China going after Taiwan over the next month or so, we will be in a great deal of hurt,” she told the Nine Network.
“Stop sitting on your butts, stop talking the talk and start walking the walk.
“I tell you what, you better get over there. You had better do something because right now he’s running amok and you are allowing him to do that.”
