Evidence of an unhealthy relationship

China has taken a great deal of criticism over its handling of the COVID-19 outbreak in recent days as its friends rushed to its defence.

Inevitably, these have included Australian captains of industry such as Kerry Stokes and Andrew Forrest whose billion-dollar businesses are very much tied up with the People’s Republic.

Stokes even took out an advertisement in the Western Australian newspaper (which he happens to own) quite baldly stating that if the country continued to attack Beijing the consequences for the Australian economy would be “catastrophic”.

In other words, he was saying that Australia should give in to what is straight-out blackmail by China.

Forrest added his opinion by stating: “I don’t know if this virus started in China or somewhere else and frankly, I don’t care.”

Both industrialists can be given full marks for their honesty — the fact they put economic gain over the consequences of a disease that has cost hundreds of thousands of lives worldwide, and the need to do everything possible to prevent it happening again.

In this they are firmly in the camp of the likes of United States President Donald Trump and Brazilian leader Jair Bolsonaro.

What they are not being so honest about is their own roles in getting Australia into a position where China’s economic clout can be used to bludgeon critics into silence.

China accounts for almost 29 per cent of Australia’s exports, more than twice that of the second largest destination. Japan, while all other nations are in single figures. How has this been allowed to happen?

There are other countries in the world that need what Australia has. What about India that receives a miserable 4.3 per cent of Australian exports? Admittedly India’s economy is not nearly the size of China’s but until COVID-19 it was expanding more rapidly, yet it has been virtually ignored.

What about the thriving economies of South-East Asia: Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam? Of course their markets are way smaller, but together they receive just 7.5 per cent of Australia’s exports. The Middle East? Only the United Arab Emirates features in the top 10 at 1.3 per cent. South America? Nowhere.

Over the years our exporters have treated these countries with disdain while growing fat on the ever-expanding demands from Beijing. Their laziness and greed has placed the country in the unenviable position of being little more than a client State to the People’s Republic.

In recent days there are signs that China is being more accommodating to global calls for an accounting of the causes of COVID-19. The Australian Government’s measured response in seeking some form international inquiry, while short on detail, is at least preferable to some of the hysterical accusations emanating from Washington. It deserves universal consideration if not support.

However, the fact remains that the Chinese Government’s aggressive stance to Australia has had its exporters jumping to attention. Beijing knows it is in a position to push Canberra around. Its response indicates the current relationship is not a healthy one.

There are other neglected places in the world where Australia should be doing more business. It will be harder work, and the results will be piecemeal, but it needs to happen.

Diversification should be Australia’s watchword in a post-pandemic world.