This is an important piece not because it says anything we don’t already know but because it is by FMG and Chinese junket queen, Jennifer Hewitt. On last week’s cyber attacks:
The decision for the Prime Minister to call this out – even without naming the Chinese government – will be politically self re-enforcing. Canberra appreciates growing community suspicion about Beijing’s intentions, making it more willing to exacerbate tension between the two countries if it believes this is justified. China predictably blames Australia for being a US puppet.
But Morrison has no interest in following Donald Trump’s lead in imposing trade tariffs on China or deliberately limiting Australia’s trading relationship despite the rhetoric backing greater diversification. Clearly, it’s Australia at much greater risk of China’s potential economic retaliation.
